Faithful Where You Are

Praise and Worship:

Offering and Prayer:

Scripture:

Colossians 3:23–24 NIV

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Title, Prayer:

Faithful Where You Are

Introduction: Your Mission Field May Be Closer Than You Think

For the last few weeks, we've been talking about the Gospel and the world. We've talked about being sent with Good News. We've talked about being witnesses instead of consumers. We've talked about crossing cultural boundaries and expanding our circle of compassion because God's heart is for every nation, every tribe, every people, and every language. But today I want to bring this all the way down to where we live.

Because when we talk about mission, sometimes we imagine something big. We think about missionaries going to another country. We think about someone preaching to thousands of people. We think about somebody standing on a stage or traveling around the world telling people about Jesus. And those things are certainly part of God's mission.

But what if your mission field isn't somewhere you're going? What if your mission field is somewhere you're already standing?

Your workplace may be your mission field. Your neighborhood may be your mission field. Your family may be your mission field. Your classroom may be your mission field. The people you interact with every week may be the very people God has placed in your life so they can see something different in you.

We sometimes think we need a microphone to be a witness. But you don't need a microphone. You need a life that points people toward Jesus.

That's what Paul is getting at in Colossians 3:23. He says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Notice what Paul doesn't say. He doesn't say, “Work willingly when you're doing something important.” He doesn't say, “Work willingly when somebody is watching.” He doesn't say, “Work willingly when you like your circumstances.” He says, “Whatever you do.”

That's where today's message begins: Whatever you do, represent Christ faithfully.

Life Application: You Are Representing Somebody

Think about the places you spend most of your time. You may spend eight hours a day at work. You may spend hours taking care of your family. You may interact with neighbors, customers, employees, coworkers, friends, and people you've never met before. And whether you realize it or not, people are watching.

They're watching how you respond when you're frustrated. They're watching how you treat somebody who can't do anything for you. They're watching how you handle conflict. They're watching what happens when things don't go your way. They're watching how you respond when somebody gets promoted and you don't. They're watching how you respond when somebody disappoints you. They're watching how you handle success. They're watching how you handle failure.

And sometimes your greatest witness isn't what you say about Jesus. It's how you live when life isn't going your way.

Anybody can be pleasant when everything is going well. Anybody can smile when the bills are paid, the family is healthy, the job is good, and everything is going according to plan. But what happens when somebody pushes the wrong button? What happens when somebody cuts you off in traffic? What happens when your boss frustrates you? What happens when somebody takes credit for something you did? What happens when somebody talks about you behind your back? What happens when you are treated unfairly?

That's when your witness becomes visible.

Because the world doesn't just need to hear what we believe. The world needs to see what we believe.

We tell people that Jesus gives us peace. Then they watch how we respond when we're under pressure. We tell people that Jesus teaches us forgiveness. Then they watch what we do when somebody hurts us. We tell people that Jesus loves people. Then they watch how we treat people who disagree with us. We tell people that our identity is in Christ. Then they watch whether our identity collapses when somebody criticizes us.

Your everyday life is preaching something. The question is: What is it preaching?

Point One: God Can Use Your Ordinary Life As An Extraordinary Witness

One of the mistakes we make is believing that God only uses people when they're doing something spectacular. But throughout Scripture, God repeatedly uses people in ordinary circumstances.

David was tending sheep when God called him. Moses was taking care of sheep when God spoke to him. Peter was fishing when Jesus called him. Matthew was sitting at a tax booth when Jesus called him. Lydia was a business woman (Acts 16) and God opened her heart. The early church didn't wait until they had a building, a stage, or a large audience. They simply lived out their faith wherever they were.

That's important because sometimes we think, “I'm just working.” “I'm just raising my kids.” “I'm just going to school.” “I'm just taking care of my family.” “I'm just doing my job.”

But there is no such thing as “just” when God has placed you there.

You may think you're just working a job. God may say, “I've placed you among people who need to see Christ.” You may think you're just raising children. God may say, “I've entrusted you with the next generation.” You may think you're just helping a neighbor. God may say, “I'm giving you an opportunity to demonstrate My love.” You may think you're just having lunch with a coworker. God may say, “This relationship is part of your assignment.”

We keep looking for the big assignment while ignoring the little opportunities God puts in front of us every day.

But here's the truth: Your ordinary life can become an extraordinary witness when Christ is at the center of it.

Our scripture says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” Paul is teaching us that our work has a higher audience. Yes, your boss may sign your paycheck. Yes, your customers may evaluate your performance. Yes, your family may depend on what you do. But ultimately, you are serving Christ.

That changes how you approach everything. You don't have to be the most important person in the room. You don't have to have the biggest platform. You don't have to have thousands of followers. You don't have to be famous. You simply have to be faithful.

Because God can take a faithful person in an ordinary place and use them to make an extraordinary difference. And that brings me to the second thing...

Point Two: Faithfulness Is a Witness Even When Nobody Is Watching

There's something else Paul says in this passage that we can't miss. He says we're to work “as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” That's important because people aren't always going to recognize what you do.

Sometimes you will do the right thing and nobody will notice. Sometimes you will help somebody and nobody will thank you. Sometimes you'll choose integrity and it will cost you something. Sometimes you'll refuse to participate in something you know isn't right, and people may think you're being difficult. Sometimes you'll do the honest thing while somebody else takes the shortcut. And you may wonder, “Does it even matter?”

Paul says, Yes, it matters.

Because your ultimate audience isn't people. It's Christ.

That means I don't need everybody to see me if God sees me. I don't need everybody to appreciate me if God knows my heart. I don't need everybody to recognize my faithfulness if I'm serving the One who called me.

And that changes the motivation behind our lives. We're not trying to impress people. We're trying to represent Christ. That's a completely different way to live.

Daniel gives us a powerful example. Daniel was living in a culture that didn't share his faith. He was surrounded by people who didn't worship his God. He was working inside a system that could have easily pressured him to compromise. But Daniel remained faithful.

Daniel 6:4 says they could find no corruption in him because he was trustworthy, and neither corrupt nor negligent.

Think about that. They looked at his life and couldn't find anything they could legitimately use against him.

That's a witness.

Daniel didn't have to stand on a street corner every day preaching. His integrity was preaching. His consistency was preaching. His faithfulness was preaching. His prayer life was preaching. His character was preaching.

And eventually, his king had to acknowledge the God Daniel served.

That's what happens when we are faithful where we are. People may not listen to your sermon, but they will watch your life. They may not read your Bible, but they will read your character. They may never come to church with you, but they will experience the way you treat them.

And sometimes the most powerful testimony you will ever give isn't a testimony you say.

It's the testimony you live.

Benediction: Don't Wait For Somewhere Else

As we close this month, let's go back to where we started. Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “You will be my witnesses.” Then He gave them a progression: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.

In other words, start where you are.

Don't wait until you get somewhere else. Don't wait until you have a platform. Don't wait until you have more money. Don't wait until you know more Scripture. Don't wait until you're more comfortable. Don't wait until you feel qualified.

Be a witness where you are.

Your Jerusalem may be your home. Your Jerusalem may be your workplace. Your Jerusalem may be your neighborhood. Your Jerusalem may be your school. Your Jerusalem may be the people you see every single week.

You don't have to go around the world to be on mission for God. Sometimes mission starts with the person sitting next to you. Sometimes it starts with the person across the desk. Sometimes it starts with the person living next door. Sometimes it starts with the person who needs somebody to listen. Sometimes it starts with simply treating someone differently because you've been changed by Jesus.

So don't underestimate your ordinary life. Don't underestimate your influence. Don't underestimate your conversations. Don't underestimate your kindness. Don't underestimate your integrity. Don't underestimate your faithfulness.

Because you may be the closest thing to Jesus that somebody encounters this week.

That's a responsibility. But it's also an opportunity.

You don't have to preach a sermon every day. Your life is already preaching. The question is: What is it saying?

When people encounter you, do they encounter impatience or patience? Pride or humility? Judgment or compassion? Dishonesty or integrity? Anger or peace? Selfishness or generosity? Do they see somebody who is trying to get ahead, or do they see somebody who is trying to represent Christ?

Our scripture also reminds us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” Whatever you do. Wherever you are. Whoever you're around.

Be faithful.

You may not realize it, but God has likely already placed you in somebody's mission field. And maybe you don't need to go anywhere. Maybe you just need to look around.

Your mission field is where your feet are.

Your witness begins where you are.

So go to work tomorrow and represent Christ. Go home and represent Christ. Go into your neighborhood and represent Christ. Go into your conversations and represent Christ. Go into your difficult relationships and represent Christ.

And when you don't know what to say, let your life say it.

Because the Gospel is not just something we believe on Sunday. It's something we carry into Monday.

And that is what it means to live as a witness, not a spectator.

Invitation:

This week, don't ask God, “Where do You want me to go?” Start by asking, “Lord, who have You already placed around me?”

Then ask, “How can I represent You to them?”

Because you don't have to go somewhere extraordinary to do something significant for God.

Be faithful where you are.

And let God use your ordinary life to show the world an extraordinary Savior.