Walking in discipleship can be informed by our driving habits. Discipleship is actually learning to walk obediently, compassionately, with a servant mentality of others first and in all things promoting Kingdom living to those around us. Have you considered your “driving” witness when it comes to being a follower of Christ? I have and there is such accountability to me that I have become so aware of the world around me. We cannot change the habits of others but we can set the good example with the hope that they will follow.

Consider the following insight:

I think that indicating a turn or change of lane has become a lost art. For many, it seems, the use of a turn indicator has the look and feel of entitlement via encroachment. Sure, we as disciples of Christ are supposed to practice submission and put others first. However, how does that driver zooming ahead of us know we are disciples unless we have a “fish” sign or church logo on the back of our vehicle? More times than not they wait until the last minute, sometimes signal, and veer into our lane with the hope of us understanding “two are not meant to be one.” Hitting our horn, slamming on the brakes and raising our voice is probably not the act of worship we had intended to present. Besides, “two becoming as one” sounds marital more than vehicular, don’t you think?

But, what can we as disciples understand from the practice of using our turn indicators as a faith witness? As Christ followers, operating by assumption often leaves “glory to God” out of the picture. How can the world differentiate between our actions as those “in the world but not of it” and those who are “of the world and fully in it”? If our mission and purpose is to tell the world about the love of God through Jesus Christ and bring glory to His Name but we just do good works that others do for their own benefit or identity then how are we fulfilling our mission? We need to signal our intention.

It is about letting people know in advance who we are, what we are about and what we are intending to do. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to others. They need to be as prepared to receive us as we are prepared to “deliver them.” We shouldn’t just barge through with our assumed, or maybe even hidden agenda, and expect we will be graciously welcomed. Think of how Jesus prepared the Passover crowd for His entrance into Jerusalem. The signal was given as the disciples who were tasked for procuring the donkey He was to ride on answered “The Lord has need of it.” The disciples were known. Jesus was known. The owner of the donkey knew and spread the word. There was no guess work as to the intention and purpose for the donkey. Jesus was coming to Jerusalem as the “King of kings and Lord of lords; God’s Messiah, the Son of David.” The people lined the streets and camped out like a Black Friday crowd hungry for first dibs on sale items. It was far enough in advance to include everyone, even the Temple elite and the Roman guard.

Does the world know our intention and purpose and mission when we are in the world bearing witness? Are we aware that every word and action we production as Christ followers is a testimony to our faith stance and belief declaration? Are we intending to bring God glory and point people to Jesus as the Christ for their salvation? Are we seeking to manifest His goodness on earth as it is in Heaven? Or are we merely honking our horns and waving ourselves in so that we promote ourselves first, even if we confess that we are not?