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READ: EPHESIANS 6:18-20; PHILIPPIANS 2:12-16; 1 PETER 3:15-16\n\n\n\nAs Christians, we\u2019re called to share the good news of Jesus with others. And this is a wonderful thing\u2014it\u2019s an honor to be entrusted with such a task. But have you ever been around somebody telling others about Jesus in a way that just doesn\u2019t seem all that great? It might feel like this person is bragging because they know Jesus and others don\u2019t. While it\u2019s commendable to have the courage to speak up about Jesus, we should be careful to consider the way we witness to others. If people don\u2019t even like to be around us, maybe our approach needs to change.\n\n\n\nIn Matthew 5, Jesus tells His disciples, \u201cYou are the light of the world\u2026let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven\u201d (verse 14-16). A person\u2019s witness\u2014the way they share Jesus with others\u2014can be like a floodlight shining in someone\u2019s eyes, blinding them. On the other hand, a witness with a kind, gentle spirit is like a scented candle (2 Corinthians 2:14-16). As Christians, sometimes we\u2019re tempted to be a floodlight in situations when a candle is needed.\n\n\n\nThink about it this way\u2014imagine you walk into your friend\u2019s home, and you\u2019re greeted by the warm, calming scent of coconut. Even though the smell is coming from a candle, it makes you hungry for your favorite dessert: coconut cake. Just as a scented candle can make us hungry for the real thing, a gentle witness can make people hungry to know Jesus. When we consistently treat others the way Jesus would and gently tell them what He means to us, they can see the difference He\u2019s made in our lives. Then they may decide they want to know Him too.\n\n\n\nSo, how will you witness? Will you be like a floodlight, trying to shine God\u2019s truth on people all at once? Or will you be like a scented candle, gently yet consistently pointing to Him in your words and actions? While there are times when a direct conversation with someone about Jesus is necessary, we should never do it with a know-it-all attitude. Instead, we can remember that we need Jesus just as much as anybody, and we can let our lives be filled with the aroma of His love and kindness so others will be hungry to know Him too. \u2022 A. W. Smith\n\n\n\n\u2022 Think about how you came to know Jesus. Were there any people who were like scented candles in your life? What did they do or say that was helpful?\n\n\n\n\u2022 Consider taking some time to reread today\u2019s Bible passages and write down what sticks out to you about how we\u2019re called to share the good news. (More about this good news on our \u201cKnow Jesus\u201d page.)\n\n\n\n\u201cIn the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.\u201d Matthew 5:16 (NIV)