"The Witnessed Life"

There is a bit of truth in the old adage, "Character is what we do when no one is looking." Born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ know, however, that there is never a moment in our lives when someone is not looking.

"All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him without whom we have to do... The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" (Hebrews 4:13; Proverbs 15:3)

Christian character is better defined as what we do because we know that Someone is looking, and we lovingly desire to please Him in every thought, word, and deed. "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer" (Psalm 69:14). We live a witnessed life, a thought that would be deeply disturbing if we did not know the character and nature of the great Witness. Our Lord sees all, from the deepest thoughts of our innermost being, to the words and actions that ensue. His love never waxes or wanes because of what He sees, although the nature of how we are loved will change according to the need of every hour. Whether in gentleness, firmness, or the sense of little Divine involvement, God's working in our lives is utterly perfect because His vision of us is perfect. "Thou God seest me" (Genesis 16:13).

The saints of old seem to have spoken and written more of the witnessed life than do we in our generation. I suspect that contemporary believers would benefit from a resurrection of this often proclaimed Biblical truth and perspective. I am certain that I would, and if you join me in this, let us pray for each other often in the coming year that we will remember that Christian character involves the awareness that Somebody is always looking. It is no doubt a most challenging truth. But even more, it is a most blessed truth because we are so beloved that our Heavenly Father will never turn His gaze from the objects of His deepest affection...

"The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous.(Psalm 34:15)