Unseen Witnesses 
by Mike Rule

Many of us worry about our witness to men and as a result unknowingly disobey Jesus because of what men may think of us. We may sense the Spirit leading us in a direction but we reject it because of what men will say, believing that our assessment of right and wrong is trustworthy.

But let me ask you which witness matters most: The one you have before men or the one you have before God? If I follow Jesus into a situation that looks very compromising to men, is my witness compromised or is it increased? Am I ruining God's witness before men, or increasing it? Who is the One who is ultimately responsible for protecting His good name?

True victory is not following Jesus because of what it looks like to someone else, either God, the angels, the saints who have gone before, or our present day “neighbors.” God looks at the heart. Victory is following Jesus regardless of appearance because it flows out of who we are in Him no matter who sees or doesn't see.

Verses for Reflection 

A curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! for you make clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of violent behaviour and uncontrolled desire. You blind Pharisee, first make clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside may become equally clean. A curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! for you are like the resting-places of the dead, which are made white, and seem beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and of all unclean things. Even so you seem to men to be full of righteousness, but inside you are all false and full of wrongdoing. (Matthew 23:25-28 BBE)

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. But we are revealed to God, and I trust also that we are revealed in your consciences. For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but are giving you occasion to glory on our behalf, so that you may have it to answer those boasting in appearance, and not in heart. (2 Corinthians 5:11 & 12)

And do not fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)

Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1)