The Story: We must always remember that, as Christians, indwelled by the Spirit of God, we are called first of all to bewitnesses. “Being” a witness must blaze the trail for giving a witness with our words. Christians lead by their lives, in other words. Nowhere is this more important than in the home, when a believing spouse – in this case, a woman – is seeking to win her husband for the Lord. Her gentle, submissive, and servant spirit will go a lot farther with her unsaved husband than nagging him about church, harping about his sins, or throwing Bible verses in his face at every opportunity. These words should be read not as a guarantee that a humble life will win a hardened husband, but as a guideline for a living witness in the most intimate of circumstances. The advice is equally sound for every believer. Nor should these verses be taken to mean that we don’t need to be ready to give our spoken witness, either. If we’re faithful in living for Christ, the time for a spoken witness will come soon enough.

The Structure: Christians are key players in the divine plan to advance Christ’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Our witness is central to the progress of the Gospel, and we need to work at being witnesses as well as at speaking a witness to our loved ones and neighbors. The Gospel which we proclaim as light to the world will shine more credibly when our lives glow with the warm light of Christian love.

Would your friends say that your life is an example of what Jesus can do in transforming theirs?

Each week’s studies in our Scriptorium column are available in a free PDF form, suitable for personal or group use. For this week’s study, “First, Be: 1 Peter 3,” simply click here.

T. M. Moore

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.