Silent Witness

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:5-10

Wearing a big smile, Dad walked into the living room where Kadie and Mom were playing a board game. “Kadie, do you remember when you went out for pizza with your youth group last month?”

“Sure,” said Kadie. “We had lots of fun.”

“Well,” said Dad, “Pastor Williams just sent me an email saying a man named Joseph Parr came to his office today. Mr. Parr was in the pizza shop when you all walked in.”

“How did he know who we were?” asked Kadie.

“He saw the church name on the van you were using that night,” explained Dad. “Anyway, at first he was annoyed when he saw all you young people come in—he was afraid you’d be too rowdy. But you weren’t. And when he saw the way you treated each other and how kind you were to the wait staff, even after they messed up your order, he could tell there was something different about you. Then he saw the name on the church van in the parking lot. It made him think of the days when he went to church as a kid.”

“Really?” asked Kadie. “That’s good, isn’t it?”

“It sure is,” said Dad. “Mr. Parr told Pastor Williams that when he went home that night, he couldn’t stop thinking about God. He said he hadn’t been living the way Jesus wanted him to, and now he wants to change. Isn’t that wonderful?”

“That’s great!” said Mom. “Kadie, even though you didn’t speak with Mr. Parr that night, you kids shared Jesus with him through your actions!”

Dad nodded. “The seed of God’s Word was planted in Mr. Parr’s life a long time ago. You kids watered it, and God made it grow—He brought the change in Mr. Parr’s thinking.”

Kadie was delighted. “You mean we watered the seed in his heart just by behaving ourselves?”

“You weren’t just behaving yourselves—you were displaying the love of Jesus,” said Dad. “It reminded Mr. Parr of what he had learned in church as a kid—that Jesus loved him so much He died for him. We never know how God will use even the smallest act of faithfulness on our part to bring others to Him.” – Richard S. Maffeo

How About You?

Do you witness for Christ through your words and your actions? Jesus wants you to plant and water seeds in other people’s lives by telling them about Him and also by treating them the way He would. Not only do you show His love to those you treat with kindness, but others you don’t even know may take notice too. What can you do today to point others toward Jesus?

Today’s Key Verse:
1 Corinthians 3:6 (NLT) I [Paul] planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.

Today’s Key Thought:

Share Jesus through words and actions