When many people hear the word proclaim, their minds immediately go to preaching at others (especially when it has to do with the Gospel), standing on a street corner, quoting scriptures, or loudly telling people about God. But proclaiming the name of the Lord is so much more than words.
In truth, how we live often proclaims louder than what we say. Jesus Himself reminded us of this in Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Our lives are meant to be living billboards of God’s love, pointing others to Him even before we open our mouths.
Being alive today and interacting with people is an opportunity to proclaim God’s goodness. Every act of kindness, every display of integrity, every moment of patience or forgiveness are silent proclamations that echo louder than sermons sometimes can.
This doesn’t mean we should never speak about Christ. Words matter, and the gospel must be shared. But our words carry more weight when they are backed by a life that shines with God’s word. People are more likely to glorify God when they can see Him in us, not just hear about Him from us.
Knowing this, I choose to proclaim by loving well, living faithfully, and letting my light shine so brightly that others are drawn, not to me, but to the God I serve.
