Webster's Dictionary defines testimony as evidence, declaration to prove some fact, a public profession of religious experience.
We need to realize that our mouth testifies about us in how we talk to others (words we use and tone in which we use them). Psalm 119:88 "Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth." There are those that say they are Christians yet they say filthy things. This may include curse words or dirty of off-color jokes.
Psalm 132:12 "If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them their children shall also sit upon thy throne evermore."
Our children and grandchildren (if you have any) are watching us and listening to us when we speak. They will do what we do and say what we say. You will see your testimony played out in them. They figure if it is okay for you to say then it must be okay for them to say it too. That includes those words considered to be light cursing. What we are teaching our children when the Man of God from the Word of God tells us we shouldn't say then we say them...then we are teaching them it isn't important to obey God. And if its okay to disobey God in that area of our lives then it must be okay if we disobey Him in other areas of our lives. What we say and how we say it is very important. It verifies to others what you say you are.
James 1:26 "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is in vain."
Whether you are saved and just struggling with your language or you're not saved...think what your testimony is to others if you profess Christ and use the wrong type of language. Also even if no one else is around and we use the wrong type of language remember "The eyes of the LORD are in every place beholding the evil and the good." Proverbs 15:3
We also need to realize our behavior testifies of us. I Peter 1:15-16 "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation: Because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy." Conversation here in this verse in the Greek is anastrofay which means behavior. God commands us in His Word to be holy and to live holy. Testimony is important to the Lord and it ought to be important to us too. If Jesus lives in our hearts then we take Him everywhere we go. In subjecting ourselves to things we are also subjecting Him to the same things. It grieves the Lord to go some of the places Christians go, to watch some of the things they watch and so on.
We need to remember the only Bible some of those around us are going to see is the Bible we show them in our lives. It is also important to take notice of the way we dress and present ourselves to the world.
Our lives are not ours....it belongs to God and we are to let Him live through us. Be careful of what your testimony is and let it be a walking Bible to those around us that we may show them we are different and give others a testimony that they would desire to have for their own that we might win them to the Lord Jesus Christ.
If your testimony is not what you think Christ would be pleased with then submit yourself to God afresh and anew and get in the Word to find out how He'd have you to live. Its so important to be in Sunday School, church for the preaching of the Word and to study and read and meditate on the Word in order to know how to live a pure and godly life.
The most important thing to remember is that we cannot live a godly Christian life in our own strength....we must let Him live it through us. To do so in our own strength will cause us to fail. When we let Him live His life through us then we will be pleasing Him and our testimony will please Him too.
10 comments:
I agree with this post Mrs Julie I believe if Christians really realize who was watching whether saved or loss I believe they would live there lives different. We are to be peculiar people. Good Post
Bro TIm
I'm so glad you said this:
The most important thing to remember is that we cannot live a godly Christian life in our own strength....we must let Him live it through us. To do so in our own strength will cause us to fail. When we let Him live His life through us then we will be pleasing Him and our testimony will please Him too.
I can't live a holy life in my own strength that's for sure!
(((Hugs)))
bro. tim...you are so right about realizing someone is watching us always. Sometimes saved...sometimes lost. We have an opportunity to be an influence on someone at all times. Our testimony should be one that would help someone find Christ or grow in Christ if they already know Him.
e-mom...(((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))) to you too my dear friend!!
This was a wonderful post and one that I totally agree with. Thanks so much. I have had so many of the kids I used to teach tell me after they were grown that they had always wished I had been their mother and were like me. My, My what a responsibility. I never knew. I wonder if maybe I would have done a better joy of living and loving and giving. connie from Texas
There is always someone watching our lives, I am very certain of that. We may never know who but they are watching. connie from Texas
Sorry about the wrong word. I put joy and I meant job. connie from Texas
Sis. Connie....I have often wondered if I could have done a better job of living and giving and loving up to this point in my life as well. Unfortunately...when I think on it I realize that I know I could have done better. I can't change the past but I can certainly affect the future of how I live, give and love. And don't worry about the typo...I sure have made my share of them. LOL!!
This is such a wonderful and fantstic post!!! Thank you, your post bless me so much!
I enjoyed this post! I have such a conviction from scripture over the importance of every word that comes out of my mouth. I guess this journey started about 10+ years ago. I read Tongue in Check by Joseph Stowell (then President of Moody Bible Institute). Come to think of it I really would like to read that book again. Anyway a couple of years ago, I began marking every scripture that I come across in my daily reading deals with the importance of words with a big "W" in the margin. It is amazing how often the Lord speaks to us on this issue (in both the Old and New Testaments). But ~ perhaps not when we realize that Jesus Himself is called The Word. Thank you so much for letting me run on a bit. This topic is just so near and dear to my heart! :o)
jodi....sounds to me like a book very much worth reading. This topic should be very near and dear to all of our hearts. What we say is just as helpful or damaging to our testimony as those things we do and wear. Sometimes even moreso.
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