Category Archives: Testimony – Witness

Do we truly believe that Jesus is who He says He is?

If so, we should sense a need to introduce Him to others. What we must remember is that there are at least four ways we communicate our beliefs.

4 Ways We Communicate What We Believe

1) What we say — our words

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (1 Pet. 3:15-16)

•  Are we respectfully dialoguing with people who do not yet believe?

2) How we live — our actions

let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matt 5:16)

• Are we living in a way that reflects what we say we believe?

3) Who we are — our character

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Gal. 5:22-23)

• Are we becoming more and more Christ-like to the core of our being?

4) How we emote — our reactions

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Cor. 13:1-3)

• Do people sense the love of God coming through us in all we do and say?

People look at the whole of who we are, not just our words, to see if they want this Jesus who claims to be the way, the truth, and the life. Does our life communicate what we believe about Jesus? Is what they see backing up what we say?

We live in a dark world where we can easily get lulled to sleep spiritually and come under the control of negative influences. The Day of the Lord will come but during the interim God calls His people to live as lights in this dark world. Encouragement is needed for all believers to shine His light and not hide it.

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:14-16)

The Apostle Paul challenged the Thessalonian church writing, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thess. 5:11). The word “therefore” points to a context, or reason why encouragement is needed. Notice how verse 5 ties into letting our light shine. — “You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”

Encouragement is Needed to Keep Our Lights Shining

1 Thessalonians 5 points to what we need to keep our lights shining.

“So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” (1 Thess. 5:6-8)

With all the stress and temptations in this world, it’s easy to simply give up and give in. To keep our lights shining in a dark world, encouragement is needed to …

1) remain alert and not go into a spiritual slumber.

2) be self-controlled and not give in to the lures of the world.

To be that light in a dark world that reflects and glorifies our Lord we need to remain alert and self-controlled. The Apostle Paul’s solution? – “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” (1 Thess. 5:11)

This post looked at “why” we need encouragement. Also learn “who” needs encouragement and “how” to be encouraging.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:14-16)

In Matthew 5:14 Jesus said that we are the light of the world — present tense, a matter of fact … it’s who we are as children of God.   “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Live as children of light (for the fruit of light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases God” (Eph. 5:8-10).

In taking a stand and living for Him in this world with all its liberal and immoral agendas, the goal is not to make ourselves the issue or debate one’s point of view, but to point them to the True Light by reflecting Him in all we do … His goodness, righteousness, and truth.

What Happens When We Don’t Live Like We’re the Light of the World

Light has many benefits but when we put a bowl or basket over the light, it loses its effect.  We cover the light when . . .

* we are ashamed or too cowardly to speak up for Him  (Light boldly penetrates into the darkness.)

* we feel the need to be politically correct or tolerant rather than reflect Him  (Light stands in stark contrast to the darkness.)

* we fail to acknowledge sin in our own lives and in the world around us  (Light exposes darkness.)

* we present truth without grace (Light has a warming effect, not just one of piercing the darkness.)

Being a light in a dark world is not always easy.  We will not always be understood or accepted but don’t lose heart.  Jesus, the True Light of the World, was not recognized for who He was and what He had to offer the world (Jn. 1:4-10).  He ultimately was put to death on a cross but “for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition, so you will not grow weary  and lose heart” (Heb. 12:2-3).

Read more about being the light of the world.

Jesus said,
“You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by man.” (Matt. 5:13)

Since we are the salt of the earth, let’s live like it!

How interesting that rather than talk about the qualities and effects of salt, in this verse Jesus only deals with salt losing its saltiness.  Why?  — probably because we need to understand the long range effect and damage it can do when we lose our testimony in the world

Effects of Not Living Like We are the Salt of the Earth

Could it be that we are seeing the effects of Christians not living as the salt of the earth today?

Immorality and liberal ways of thought have so infiltrated the world that people seem blind to truth.

Those who claim that there are absolute truths are viewed as arrogant and intolerant.

Those who take a stand for Christ are so often ridiculed or persecuted.

How did we get here … where Christians are seen as the ones to “be thrown out and trampled by men?”  How did the world get so far off track?

If we as Christians aren’t living as the salt of the earth, the desire for and perceived value of being a Christian decreases.  The salt is losing its saltiness!  If we Christians aren’t living as the salt of the earth, how will the world be seasoned with the truth of God’s Word and His grace?

The salt is losing its saltiness when we no longer see a godly influence in the world.  It is when salt has lost its saltiness that we fail to infiltrate our society with His truth and goodness.

Don’t despair.  A salt shaker contains many grains of salt.  Though some may have lost their saltiness, not all have.  If those who want to still influence the world pull together, a little salt can go a long way!

Read more about being the salt of the earth.