Key scripture – “That you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:10–11).

Pastor Greg Laurie, says that, in ancient Rome, fine pottery was relatively thin and fragile and often would develop cracks after firing. Rather than remake the piece, unscrupulous shop owners would fill the cracks with hard, dark wax and then sell it as new.

So when someone bought a piece of pottery they would take it home and put it outside, in the blazing Mediterranean sun, and if it’s cracks had been filled with wax, parts of it would start to melt, and when that happened they would take the pottery back to the shopkeeper and say, “What have you done? You are trying to cheat me. This isn’t right. I want a new piece of pottery minus the wax.”

That is what Paul was talking about when he prayed that the believers in Philippi would be “sincere and without offense.” Sincere is sometimes translated “without wax.” He wrote in 1 Corinthians 10, “Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. (verses 32–33).
Another way to translate that is, “Don’t give an unbeliever a reason to not believe in Jesus.”

Jesus saved his most scathing words not for struggling sinners but for hypocritical believers, the Pharisees, those who appeared to be one thing but really were another.

So let’s make sure we are not people who fill in our cracks with wax and bring reproach to the name of Jesus Christ. Each of us has a sphere of influence. Each of us has a group of people who are watching us carefully. They are scrutinizing every word and our actions. When you walk with God, live a godly life, and do what He wants you to do, that is the power of a good testimony.

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, I want the power of my testimony to cause people in my sphere of influence to notice and to want to get to know Jesus. I know that the way I live is the only Bible that some people have been exposed to. Give me the strength and courage to live, walk, talk, think, and act like Jesus. This is why You tell us to die to ourselves and live for Christ, because in our own strength and in our flesh we look like any other sinner, but when Jesus takes over we become like Him; patient, long suffering, kind, loving, full of peace, forgiving, joyful, selfless, good, gentle, faithful, tender hearted, and full of self control. Father, show me how to …”lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1), I want the Holy Spirit to fill all the cracks in my heart with Your Word in place of sin and iniquity. Pour Your grace on me as I strive for holiness, and continue to strengthen my heart with Your grace. I want my life to be pleasing to You so that I hear You say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21). In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.