It's vital that we bear witness to Christ in the little things we do each day and not just through the standard periodical expressions of our faith such as going to church once a week. We need to be full-time, 24/7 365 days a year (366 on leap years) Christians.
Sometimes we can dismiss the need, appropriateness and even possibility of being a witness in certain spaces. But just as the ways in which we can point people to Christ are varied, the instances in which we can employ them can also vary. Plus, there is always a need for us to be a witness, even around fellow believers. We shouldn't worry ourselves about the "appropriateness" of confessing our faith as it's not to be bound by our societal etiquette and nothing is impossible with God.
Here are three ways that you can act as a witness to Christ in public every day.
Cultivate compassion
This is possibly the most effective and bold form of witness that we can all do. Stories of extreme forgiveness and reconciliation often make headlines because this powerful act of compassion is something that our society has a desire to experience and extend but is often detached from the means of doing so.
But the daily acts of forgiveness that characterise the main part of our lives can be just as much of an inspiration and declaration that we love the Lord. Don't underestimate the witness power of displaying your kindness towards rude shop assistants or to a neighbour who's always grumpy.
Praise and stay positive through the pain
During a visit to my friend's church on Sunday, a woman shared her testimony with the congregation. She spoke of how she praised her way through a battle with an aggressive strain of breast cancer, much to the surprise of her non-Christian colleagues. Her positive attitude, a by-product of her faith in the Lord, was a formidable act of witness during troubled times.
We can't avoid being affected by the goings-on in our world, especially when these events involve our own or other people's pain and suffering. However, as Christians we should have faith that God can bring us through, and will do just that. Solutions might not be immediate, but knowing that eventually things will change is essential.
When we're certain that God can provide a way out whatever the current situation, we can share this positivity to the people around us.
Say grace before meals when eating out
Giving thanks to the Lord before tucking into your dinner might seem abnormal to non-Christians, but it should be completely normal to us. Acts of witness have nothing to do with a preoccupation with what other people are thinking but everything to do with the pursuit to please, honour and proclaim you love for God. Therefore, the environment we're in at any given time shouldn't dictate our behaviour. Instead, our love for Christ should drive our actions in both private and public. A meal with your friends in your favourite restaurant shouldn't mean you opt out of thanking God before you eat as you would do if you were reheating leftovers at home alone.
