our daily bread

[Dexu Xia]

Quiet Witness

Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. 1 Peter 2:12 nlt

Amy lives in a closed country where it’s forbidden to preach the gospel. She’s a trained nurse who works in a big hospital, caring for newborn babies. She’s such a committed professional that her work stands out, and many women are curious about her. They are moved to ask her questions in private. It’s then that Amy shares about her Savior openly.

Because of her good work, some co-workers were envious and accused her of stealing some medicine. Her superiors didn’t believe them, and authorities eventually found the culprit. This episode led some of her fellow nurses to ask about her faith. Her example reminds me of what Peter says: “Dear friends . . . . Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God” (1 Peter 2:11–12 nlt).

Our everyday lives at home, in our work environment, or at school make an impact on others when we let God work in us. We’re surrounded by people who are watching the way we speak and behave. Let’s depend on God and have Him rule our actions and thoughts. Then we’ll influence those who don’t believe and this may lead some of them to turn in faith to Jesus.

Father, help me to live in such a way that Your name will be honored wherever I go.

Our lives speak louder than our words.

沉默的见证

你们在外邦人中，应当品行端正。-彼得前书2章12节

艾美居住在一个封闭的国家，那里禁止基督徒公开向人传福音。艾美是受过专业训练的护理人员，在一所大医院担任照顾新生儿的工作。艾美在工作上十分敬业，表现格外出色。这让许多妇女对她感到好奇，不禁私下问她许多问题，因此让艾美有机会坦然地与人分享她的基督信仰。

然而，艾美的良好表现却也遭来部分同事的妒忌，甚至诬告她窃取医疗用品。但艾美的上司并不相信他们的说词，还好最后医院查出谁是真正的偷窃者。艾美对整起事件的态度，也让一些同事想要了解她的信仰。艾美的榜样让我想起使徒彼得说：“亲爱的弟兄啊，……你们在外邦人中，应当品行端正，叫那些毁谤你们是作恶的，因看见你们的好行为，便在鉴察的日子归荣耀给上帝。”（彼得前书2章11-12节）

若我们愿意让上帝在生命中动工，那么无论是在家里、职场或学校，我们的生活态度都能发挥影响力。周遭的人随时都会看到我们的言行举止、待人处事。让我们倚靠上帝，由祂掌管我们的行为和意念，盼望我们能藉此影响那些还未认识主的人，让他们能因此转而相信耶稣。

天父，求祢帮助我不论身在何处，
行事为人都能荣耀祢的名。

生命的见证胜过千言万语