Abraham is a model of how to live a life that testifies to God. His wife, Sarah, had just died, and Abraham needed a place to bury her. His neighbors were Hittites who did not follow the true God. Yet, it seems that they have great respect for Abraham and his life lived in service to God.
Genesis 23: 5 The Hittites replied to Abraham, 6 “Listen, my lord, you are an honored prince among us. Choose the finest of our tombs and bury her there. No one here will refuse to help you in this way.” [1] The Hebrew term translated as “honored prince” can also be understood as “a prince with God.”[2] Abraham’s neighbors observed that he lived his life in honor of God.
Our Actions Give Witness
People are always watching us. Words are cheap, but actions speak to the character within us. What do the neighbors see? Do they see loving actions and forgiveness or an unforgiving, controlling nature? Could someone accuse us of being Christians just from our actions? Granted, we always need to be ready to give verbal testimony to who Jesus is, but we must also remember the importance of our actions.
1 Peter 3: 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 17 Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong.[3]
A Mature Faith
Abraham had been on a faith journey marked by its ups and downs, failures, and successes. We, too, are on a similar faith journey. Christ transforms us and gives us a new life as we believe. Peter, in his first letter, the second chapter, speaks of this transformation and its process. It is too extensive to quote here, but the following is a sample.
1 Peter 2: 9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light… 11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.[4]
15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you… 17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers… 21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. [5]
With God’s help, we can live a life that testifies to God, even in a pagan world. To find out more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/a-journey-through-grief-and-hope
[1,3-5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (p. 129). Victor Books.