From “At Arms Length” by Gail Sattler: excerpts and snippets.
Ken.
He had always been an active member of his church and took God’s word about marriage and chastity very seriously. Despite all his commitment to doing his best to follow God’s direction and live a life worthy before God, Molly had challenged him – indirectly.
He had been a Christian his entire life, but Molly had been a Christian for less than two weeks, and she was already witnessing to an unbeliever. He couldn’t remember the last time he shared his faith outside a church setting. He tended to do his Christian service in activities amongst those already saved, or at least among those with whom the battle had been won and had already ventured within the church doors.
He was fully convinced that a Christian ought to share his faith. He was an honest man, honorable, and fair in his dealings, but plenty of non Christian men were also good. If there was nothing to set him apart as a Christian, then he wasn’t doing what God wanted. He took a good look at his own Christian walk, and he didn’t like what he saw.
By witnessing to an unbeliever, Molly had already reminded him that he didn’t go out of his way to talk to people about Jesus. Those who he usually talked to were either believers or were close to making a decision from someone else’s evangelistic outreach.
Would people he saw every day be able to set him apart as a Christian? Would they recognize his faith by his words and actions? If he honestly had to think about it, the answer was probably not.
Like Ken, we’ve probably found ourselves in similar situations. These make us assess our Christian walk and wonder whether God is really pleased by what He sees in our lives.
But this reflection isn’t meant to discourage—it’s meant to inspire change. As we step into 2025, let this be our challenge: to live in such a way that our actions become a testament to our faith. Let us actively witness to others, not only through our words but also by embodying Christ’s love in our daily lives. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
By living exemplary lives rooted in integrity, kindness, and grace, we can make an impact that goes beyond words. It’s not about perfection but about being intentional in aligning our actions with God’s word. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17).
So let’s commit to being vessels of God’s love, stepping out of our comfort zones to share the hope we have in Christ. And when we do, may we be reminded of the promise in Galatians 6:9: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
To other Kens, let’s be Molly: not deliberately showing off our faith, but making no effort to hide it.
_malusi