Tag Archives: witness

Get your facts right! – Joshua. 22

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What a fantastic story! We see the Israelites on the verge of civil war, however it is averted simply because they took the time to talk to each other, and discover the reasons for each others actions! Imagine, had they jumped to conclusions when they saw the altar being built, and sought to avenge the Lord there and then, an extremely bloody battle could have ensued. Instead, they sent a representative from the head of each family to go and talk with the Gadites.

It’s great how the Bible really is current and really does cover the issues of today. I can think back to many occasions where I have jumped to conclusions and acted only to find that I had got the complete wrong end of the stick! By jumping to conclusions and acting upon them, I hurt those very close to me. It may not have been potentially deathly as in Joshua 22, however it still applies as a perfect example.

What can we learn?  Don’t jump to conclusions.  Many, if not all situations are not as they seem.  Reacting quickly to what you think you see can have disastrous affects.  Instead, talk with the people concerned, if your fears are grounded then consider, what would Jesus do in this situation?  Remember we have no right to judge others, we are called to imitate Christ and be a living witness of His eternal love and grace.

Of course if you then find your fears were fantasy, and you had got the wrong idea, then appreciate the fact that a potentially nasty situation was averted!

Fighting Back – Matthew 5:38-48

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“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”. That was the old law, and a law that I think we would prefer to adhere to sometimes! I can remember many occasions where someone had wronged me and I have immediately wanted revenge. The problem is, I would never just reply with an “eye”, I would have to top what they did to me, plus a bit more so I could be satisfied that I had truly got “one up” on them!

Unfortunately, in most cases like these, the person I retaliate against, has exactly the same thoughts, and before we know it a full on fight is in progress! Not necessarily a fist fight, but sometimes a fight of wills, and battling to have the upper hand in situations.l

The Lord is asking us not to retaliate! We are to turn the other cheek, give to one who asks you and not to turn away from those that wish to borrow. All easier said than done when you factor in human nature, selfishness and competitive spirit! I certainly would have struggled to turn the other cheek when me and my sister were having one our our daily rows as children! Instead we spent many years trying to trump the other last attack!

Just think how much less stressful our childhood would have been if we were to have adopted Jesus principles and thus lived in harmony! Thankfully we have grown up, and no longer fight, but it took many years for us to get to that stage!

I pray that in all of life’s situation the Lord will give us the strength to be more like Jesus. He will bless us with the power not to fight back, but to love, not to want revenge, but to care, and to be a living walking witness to his amazing love. Turning the other cheek not only can diffuse a situation, and nip it in the bud before becoming a battle, but it also is a living witness to the power of the Lord, and actions at times can really speak louder than words!

Practice love, not punches!

Prayer and Witness – Colossians 1:3-14

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There recently in many of my daily devotionals seems to be a common theme.  How we live our lives is one of the most important witnesses to the lost we can give.  In Colossians, we find them praying for their brother that he may have strength and wisdom.  Checkout this verse:

Colossians 1:10 – …And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God… (NIV).

Here they pray that their brother may live a life worthy of the Lord.  Not conforming to localised peer pressures, or becoming captive to sin, but living in the light and knowledge of the Lord that he may bear fruit.  His actions are a witness to those around him.

How this passage differs from previous sections on “imitating” God and living like him, is the emphasis on prayer.  It is a strong reminder that we cant live for him, or live like him without his help!  Go it alone and you will fail.  However if you have him with you at all times, you will bear fruit.

I am reminded of a verse in Revelation 22:1-3, …Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.

And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

3 No longer will there be any curse…

I can envisage that the crops and trees were growing and bearing fruit as they were feeding from the living water flowing from the throne.  We as Christians can bear fruit by drinking the living water, in reading the word, in prayer and in living for him (you cant pick one of them, they are linked).

Valued – 2 Samuel 9

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In this passage, David welcomes into his home a man that was not only crippled, but a son of Saul’s.  He had welcomed a man whom people had disregarded because of his “disability” and his family background.  We can at times also have our own pre-determined ideas about people that also affect how we treat them.

This passage reminds me that the Father in heaven welcomes everyone to his home, no matter how “weak” they are, no matter how unpopular with other people, no matter what they wear.  He values every single one of us.  Lets continue to imitate the Lord, and make sure we too value everyone we meet and extend his love to them.  Remembering that there is no better witness of the love of God than in deed.

Be Imitators of Christ – John 13:3-15

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This is so apt given my current walk with the Lord.

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. —1 Corinthians 11:1

Jesus Chr ist

is our role model, he is t

he way we should live, we should comport ourselves. There is no better witness than by our actions and the way we live our lives.