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The call to be witnesses in all we do By WorkLife Success |www.biblicalleadership.com | image credit: istock
In Matt. 5:13 Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth” and in Matt. 5:14 he Think of yourself as being strategically placed by God, and think of all says, “You are the light of the world.” the Christians all over the country as being strategically placed by God. A vast army which has infiltrated enemy territory. And if all these Christians It is vitally important that we grasp what Jesus is saying here: we ourselves were to shine as lights, and savor as salt, think of the difference that would are the salt; we ourselves are the light. The salt and light are not primarily make. In NT times, it was very rare for Christians to be found in the top the words we say, or the evangelistic events we organize, or the testimony jobs – the majority of Christians were women and slaves. But now that is that we give. We are the salt, we are the light! Once again, this is something not the case. that involves the whole of our lives. Christians can be found in virtually every profession and industry – from Robert Murray M’Cheyne said this to pastors, but it is relevant to all of us, cleaner to chief executive. There is a vast army out there! There is great po“Covet universal holiness of life. Your whole usefulness depends on this, tential, but there is also great challenge. Whether you know it or not and for your sermons last but an hour or two; your life preaches all week.” Did whether you like it or not, if you are a Christian at work you are a witness you know that you are not only a minister, you are a preacher! Your life at work. preaches all week. What message are you preaching? We may not all be called to be evangelists. We may not all have the gift of evangelism. But we Witness is not primarily something you do. Primarily, it is something we are all called to be witnesses, and as you live, you witness! are. You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. The light can shine and salt can savor in all kinds of ways through Christians in the It is interesting that there are so few instructions in the NT about evange- workplace: in how they deal with difficult clients or co-workers, in how lism or about how to witness. There are no “evangelism in 3 easy steps” in- they deal with failure, in their attitude to money, promotion and success, structions. The assumption of the NT is that if you live for Christ, you will in their concern for junior members of staff, in how they deal with really witness for Christ. If you live as a Christian, your witness will overflow tedious work, in the interest they show in people’s lives, and in their willfrom your life. This is really what Peter is saying in 1 Pet. 3:15 – “Always be ingness to put themselves out for others. prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have.” If Christians are serious about workplace witness, the Holy Spirit will give opportunity to share the reason for the hope that is within! You might not The assumption here is that you are living the Christian life and the hope be a pastor, you might not be a missionary, you might not be in so-called of the Christian life is shining out! For Christians who work, this is a vitally full-time Christian service, but God has called each of us to glorify Him important issue. It is vitally important because of the potential that there is in all that we do, to serve Him in all that we do, and to witness to His love in workplace witness. At work, you don’t have to go knocking on doors to and grace in Christ Jesus. find non-Christians. You don’t have to find common ground upon which to build a relationship, because work establishes common ground.
TT 163 | August 2nd - 8th | 2022
