Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
    who have ears but are deaf.
9 All the nations gather together
    and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretold this
    and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
    so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”
10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
    “and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
    and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
    nor will there be one after me.
11 I, even I, am the Lord,
    and apart from me there is no savior.
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
    I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
13     Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
No one can deliver out of my hand.
    When I act, who can reverse it?”

There is only one true God and Saviour, and His people are ”witnesses” to this truth; whereas the false gods are unable to produce ”their witnesses” in order to authenticate them.

Under the New Covenant, it remains the privilege and responsibility of Christ’s people to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8).

I was thinking, simply by living (or trying to live) a Christian life, we are witnesses to Jesus. This is not to excuse a non-verbal approach. Of course words are important, and as with Paul (see Col.4:2-4), I regularly pray for ‘open doors’ for conversation about Jesus. I don’t want to be silenced by cowardice. But who can tell the influence of a godly life lived in the power of the Holy Spirit? Somebody spoke about ‘our unconscious influence impregnated with the fragrance of Christ.’

‘To me, ’twas not the truth you taught, to you so clear, to me so dim;

But when you came to me you brought a sense of Him;

And from your eyes He beckons me, and from your heart His love is shed,

‘Til I lose sight of you, and see the Christ instead.’

Here’s another thought that occurred to me recently. I was attending a small gathering of Christians in our village, and it struck me what a counter-cultural thing it is in these days, to just attend church. It is in no small sense, I believe, a part of our witness.