They Are Watching

"Hello Mister" is the usual phrase that I am greeted with in this city. It is not uncommon for me to hear this phrase ten times in one day! I am often tempted to call back some rude comment like, "Don't you know that I am not a mister?" or "Don't they teach you any other English phrase besides that one in school?" (I bet you had no idea missionaries could be so carnal!) These things are terrible to say, and I'm thankful that God has allowed me to keep my tongue in check thus far.

As one of only 15 white people on an island of 125,000, I tend to stick out. Everyone wants to know where I am going and what I am doing. Everywhere I go, I am being watched. And I am all too aware of that fact.
However, the truth of the matter is that we, as Christians, are all being watched. As we live our lives, we are a testimony to our relationship with Him, and His power living inside of us. A hurting, needy world is watching us to see if the message of the Gospel is real, and if it really works.
A great quote (that Lori shared last week) from St. Francis of Assisi is this,"Preach the Gospel at all times, when necessary use words." This isn't to say that we should never use words to preach the Gospel. Certainly not. However, if our actions leading up to our words are preaching an entirely different message, how can we expect others to believe what we say about our Lord?

We are to be the "fragrance of Christ" everywhere we go, and to whomever we come in contact with.

I'd say that I have it easy. Knowing that I am being watched has kept me on my toes, and kept me smiling, when sometimes I want to frown. Our testimony to others should be a real one, I'm not suggesting that we put on a fake smile or pretend we are something we aren't. What I am saying that we should be aware of everyone who is watching us, whether it is at the store, the park, or church.

We need to think about how we are presenting Christ to the world....because they are watching.

"Let you light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. " Matthew 5:16


In Him.....Joy

above photo courtesy of Flickr