We live in a time where the world is watching the church more than ever. But let’s be honest with each other, most of the time they’re not watching to be inspired. They’re watching us so that they may find a fault. They’re not looking to see Jesus in us, but they are waiting for us to mess up. And when we do, they are quick to they say, “See, I told you they were fake.” This isn’t something new. The people of God have always been under watch.

For example, after being miraculously delivered from Egypt, the Israelites arrived at the edge of the Promised Land. God instructed Moses to send twelve spies, one from each tribe, to scout the promised land, Canaan. For forty days they explored, seeing the abundance of the land. It was a place “flowing with milk and honey.” But they also saw fortified cities and giants. The bible calls them the descendants of Anak.

When they returned, ten of the spies spread fear by saying in…

Numbers 13:32 NASB
The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge.

They exaggerated the dangers and minimized the promises of God. Their words infected the people with fear and rebellion. Only Joshua and Caleb stood firm and said this in…

Numbers 14:6–7 NASB
The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land!

However and because of the bad report, the people rejected God’s promise. The result was that for forty years, they were made to wander in the wilderness. That entire generation, except Joshua and Caleb, died without ever stepping into the promise land. Why? Because their words weren’t just rooted in fear, but in unbelief.

This is how it relates to us now; just like Israel, we live in a world that isn’t just watching us, but it is judging the Jesus in us. The enemy loves to distort our witness. Our flesh wants to lash out. And the world holds a magnifying glass to every misstep, mistake, fault, error we may make.

Paul said it this way in…

Romans 2:24 NASB
The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.

That wasn’t a warning to the unchurched people, but to the religious people who knew better but lived worse. The world doesn’t separate our flaws from our faith. If we gossip, lie, cheat, or steal, they don’t say, “They had a bad day.” But what they do say is, “There goes another fake Christian”, “another hypocrite”.

Ten spies saw the same land as Joshua and Caleb. So, what was the difference? Their report. And the same is true for us today. Some believers spread fear, negativity, and criticism. We all know them. Some of us are them even now. Others spread faith, hope, and the promises of God. This is also some of us, but not all of us. Our words shape how people see Jesus. We can either discourage others from stepping into His promises, or we can strengthen their faith. So, which report are we spreading? Be honest!

Paul teaches us in…

2 Corinthians 5:20 NASB
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us.

Everywhere we go, whether it is work, school, home, online, we represent Jesus. Whether we like it or not, people are learning what He’s like through us. So, when we lose our witness in the parking lot, or blow up on social media, or cuss out a coworker, and then post a Bible verse the next day, people don’t say, “They had a moment.” But what they do say is this, “That’s why I don’t go to church.” We don’t get to separate our identity from our behavior. If we wear His name, we reflect His name.

Mary said, “My soul exalts the Lord”. She magnified the Lord. But the world magnifies our flaws. They overlook the prayers we’ve prayed, the tears we’ve shed, the love we’ve shown, but they will highlight one angry comment or one bad decision. That’s why we must choose what we magnify. So, don’t magnify your pain, but do magnify His power. Don’t magnify your mistakes but do magnify His mercy. Don’t magnify the gossip but do magnify the Gospel.

Jesus said this to us in…

Matthew 5:14 NASB
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

The world is alert. They are watching, looking for a reason not to believe. The question is this, will they find a reason not to believe in us, or will they find Jesus through us? In other words, will they believe our good report, or our bad report? So, let us let our conduct speak louder than our words. Let us let our kindness silence critics. Let us let our consistency be our testimony.

Brothers and sisters, it is not about perfection, but it is about intention. Guard the reputation of Jesus. After all, we are His ambassador. So what report are we spreading? Fear or faith? Doubt or hope? Shame or Jesus? The world is watching us and I say let them, that way they will see Jesus in us.