YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS WATCHING
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16
Whether we realize it or not, somebody is watching.
Your children are watching.
Your grandchildren are watching.
Your neighbors are watching.
The people you work with are watching.
People at church are watching.
And sometimes complete strangers are watching.
That does not mean they are examining every detail of our lives, waiting for us to make a mistake. It simply means that the way we live leaves an impression on the people around us.
Jesus said:
“Let your light so shine before men...”
Notice that He did not tell us to shine the light on ourselves.
The purpose of the light is not to make people notice how good we are.
Jesus continued:
“...that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
The goal of a Christian testimony is not for people to look at us and say, “What a wonderful person.”
The goal is for them to look at our lives and say, “What a wonderful God.”
Your Life May Be Someone's First Look at Christianity
There are people all around us who rarely, if ever, attend church.
They may never listen to a sermon.
They may never turn on a Christian radio station.
They may not own a Bible.
But they know you.
That means their understanding of Christianity may be influenced by the Christian they see every day.
They notice how you treat people.
They notice how you respond when things go wrong.
They notice how you conduct your business.
They notice the language you use.
They notice how you treat your family.
They notice whether the person you are on Sunday is the same person you are on Monday.
Paul told the believers at Corinth:
“Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:”
II Corinthians 3:2
You may be the only “Bible” some people are presently reading.
That is a sobering thought.
Your Family Is Watching Closely
Perhaps nowhere is our testimony more important than at home.
It is possible to impress people who see us only a few hours each week.
Our family knows us better.
Children learn much more about Christianity from what they see than from what they are merely told.
They notice whether Dad really believes the Bible he carries to church.
They notice whether Mom's Christianity affects the atmosphere of the home.
They notice how their parents speak to each other.
They notice whether prayer is something we only talk about at church or something we actually practice.
They notice how we respond when we're disappointed, tired, angry, or under pressure.
Deuteronomy 6 teaches parents to speak of God's Word throughout the ordinary routines of life:
“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way...”
Deuteronomy 6:7
Our children need to hear us teach the truth.
But they also need to see us live it.
People Watch Us Most Closely in Difficult Times
It is easy to praise God when everything is going well.
Our testimony often becomes clearest when life isn't.
Paul and Silas had been beaten and thrown into prison. Their feet were fastened in the stocks.
Acts 16:25 says:
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”
I love those last five words:
“...and the prisoners heard them.”
They had an audience.
Paul and Silas may not have been thinking about who was listening. They were simply worshipping God in the middle of their trouble.
But somebody heard them.
People notice how a Christian handles adversity.
They watch when the diagnosis is frightening.
They watch when money is tight.
They watch when someone treats us unfairly.
They watch when we lose someone we love.
They watch when our plans fall apart.
That does not mean Christians never hurt, cry, struggle, or become discouraged.
It means that even in those moments, we have a God to whom we can turn.
The world needs to see that Christianity does not eliminate every storm.
It gives us Someone to trust in the storm.
One Small Act May Make a Lasting Impression
We sometimes imagine that influencing others for Christ requires doing something dramatic.
Usually it doesn't.
It may be returning money when a cashier gives you too much change.
It may be showing kindness to someone everyone else ignores.
It may be refusing to participate in gossip.
It may be bowing your head to thank God for your meal in a restaurant.
It may be helping someone who can never repay you.
It may be forgiving someone who wronged you.
It may simply be consistently doing what is right when nobody seems to notice.
But somebody may notice.
Jesus said:
“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much...”
Luke 16:10
Never underestimate what God can do with simple faithfulness.
Be Careful, But Don't Become Artificial
Knowing that others are watching does not mean we should spend our lives performing for people.
Christianity is not a show.
Jesus strongly condemned religious people who did their works merely:
“...to be seen of men...”
Matthew 6:5
There is a tremendous difference between living for people to notice us and living faithfully knowing that people may notice Christ in us.
Don't manufacture a testimony.
Just walk with God.
Love people.
Tell the truth.
Keep your word.
Be faithful.
Forgive.
Serve.
Pray.
Live what you believe.
And when you fail, be humble enough to admit it and make it right.
Sometimes an honest apology can be as powerful a testimony as getting it right the first time.
Someone May Be Following Your Footsteps
Paul told Timothy:
“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;”
II Timothy 3:14
Timothy had learned truth from people he trusted.
Someone may be learning from you.
A child may someday pray because they remember hearing you pray.
A young Christian may remain faithful because they watched you remain faithful.
Someone may learn generosity because they saw you give.
Someone may learn forgiveness because they watched you forgive.
Someone may come to church because they saw something genuine in your life.
And perhaps someone may eventually come to Christ because your testimony caused them to want to know the Saviour you know.
You may never know this side of Heaven how far your influence reached.
So tomorrow morning, when you walk out your door, remember:
You are carrying the name of Christ with you.
Not just to church.
Everywhere.
At home.
At work.
At the store.
At the restaurant.
In traffic.
On social media.
In your conversations.
In the way you treat people.
Live in such a way that when someone notices your life, their attention ultimately moves beyond you to the One you serve.
Because...
you never know who is watching.