For All To See
“It doesn’t matter what other people think of you.” Perhaps you’ve gotten this nugget of wisdom before or maybe you’ve given it to someone. Have you ever stopped to think about whether or not it’s true? Does it really not matter what other people think of you? Certainly in the context of self-worth it absolutely doesn’t matter what other people think of you; other people’s opinions should not have an influence on how you see yourself. This is almost certainly what is meant when people give this advice: we shouldn’t let other people’s opinions about us affect our self-worth. When we look at the Scriptures we find that what we do matters because people are watching and we are Christ’s representatives. What people see us do will have an impact not only on their opinion of us, but how they might see God.
“So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’” (2 Corinthians 5:20)
“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:16)
Jesus said we should let our good deeds or our light shine for everyone to see so that they will praise God. What we do matters because others will see it and we should live and behave in such a way that brings others to God. We should never lose sight of the fact that if we call ourselves Christians, we have taken Christ’s name as our own. We are His ambassadors or representatives in this world, so what we do matters.
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)
How we live among people matters. If we lived with an attitude that we didn’t care what other people thought about us at all, that would lead to very self-centered behavior. Peace does not last when people are only thinking of themselves. The writer of Hebrews is echoing Jesus’ words that we are to live lives that point to God, lives of holiness because without that, no one will see the Lord.
“Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)
When do you feel the least at peace? When you’re angry? When you want revenge? When you are thinking of yourself instead of others? When things didn’t work out the way you wanted them or expected them to? When we focus on ourselves and what we want, peace is much harder to come by. This call from Paul to live in peace with everyone is right in the middle of two other pieces of advice that make living in peace with everyone much easier.
“Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. (…) Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the Lord.” (Romans 12:17, 19)
If we don’t aim to pay back evil with more evil, then it will be much easier to live in peace with everyone. If we focus on living in such a way that people will conclude we are honorable, and if we never take revenge, but instead leave revenge to our just God, we can live in peace with everyone. So, are you living in peace with everyone? Do you live in such a way that people would call you honorable? Do you seek to repay evil with more evil? Do you seek revenge on others? Do you focus on yourself and your life the way you want it to be? Don’t just consider your neighbors who may not know you very well—what about the people who live with you, the ones who know you best; would they say you live an honorable life?
“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)
We learn in Acts 11:26 that it was in Antioch that believers were first called Christians. This word in the Greek was Χριστιανούς or Christianos meaning “follower of Christ” or “Little Christs.” This wasn’t a name the followers gave themselves—it was so obvious in the way they lived that those around them started identifying them as Christ-followers or people imitating Christ. The way we live should also be so unmistakable that those around us can recognize us as Christians. What we do matters because we live in a dark and fallen world. Our lights need to shine for all to see so that they will glorify the Lord.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
—Redeemed
