How Do Others See Us?

How do others see us as believers? I began to wonder about this again recently when we travelled back from our team conference recently and began talking to the coach driver. He was joking that his boss was trying to turn him into a Christian by sending him to take first us, and then another group of Christians, for long trips. He told us he was an atheist. Apparently he takes the other group annually and he told us that they always come back with 40% less luggage – not the usual state of affairs with travellers – and that the 40% which disappeared was drink! What impression does that give of Christians?

Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-14). We should be ‘different’ from those around us in the world. My heart was grieved that this coach driver had such an example from people who, supposedly, call Jesus their Lord. I know that none of us is perfect and that we all make mistakes and sin from time to time, but if we always try to remember that the world is watching us to see how different our faith makes us from those around us, how would that alter our behaviour?

The driver said, “Oh, God can’t touch me” and I told him that God could touch any man anywhere at any time, and my prayer is that He will indeed reach out to that man and to others who think they are out of reach.

Prayer: Oh Father God, there are so many who are lost without You, some of them in our own families. Please don’t let my behaviour be a bad example to them. In Your mighty love, please reach out, touch them and draw them to Yourself. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus, who died for all men everywhere. Amen.