31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes
“May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 3:5 (NLT)
Day 21: Testimony
As a teacher, I spent my career taking the broad, complicated goals given to us by the state and breaking them down into more basic, doable parts so that my students could learn step by step, building confidence until they could demonstrate mastery of a skill that at one time seemed overwhelming.
As adults, we face complicated goals to conquer, too. The most important to me these days, is to live so that my life is a testimony to others. We’ve been given all the standards we need to be successful in God’s Word, but I’m going to be honest with you, like my Second Graders I’ve found myself overwhelmed by the voluminous, complex lessons and instructions within the Bible. Have you ever been there? Our desire is great but our confidence wavers. That’s why we need the Teacher.
“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor a yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39 (NLT)
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 (NLT)
Jesus breaks living our lives as a Godly testimony down into basic, doable parts: Love God, Love others.
When our hearts, minds, and souls are focused on loving God, we begin to try to understand and live out those complex lessons and instructions in the Bible and in so doing that, our lives will bear evidence of that Godly love. Putting others above ourselves, loving them as Jesus loves us will also be a profession of our faith without us having to say a word.
Is it easy? No. Can we do it on our own? Of course not. But, when we put our confidence in Christ and not ourselves, step by step our lives will demonstrate and express the love the world so desperately needs. I don’t think it’s a skill we will master in this life but it’s one that we’ll get better at as we put love into practice.
Love God. Love others. This is our life testimony!
Yes, if we focus on love that will be a great testimony to point others to God!
I pray that is what my life will do! Thanks Lesley!
Love God. Love people. That’s what I hope is the testimony of my life. I have learned that everything I do, every attitude, every word spoken, every act taken contributes to my testimony. Have you ever been to a funeral and the eulogy speaks of the person as kind, compassionate, servant, mentor, you get the picture. When I hear such things I wonder if the testimony of my life will say anything like that. I try to keep this in mind: Be careful with your moments because they become your memories..
I no longer have intention
to make of life my testimony;
cancer’s got me in detention,
and it’s getting kinda lonely
to see the bright world rushing by,
stopping for a moment, maybe
to smile and shake my hand, say Hi,
and then it’s Sayonara, Baby.
The lessons I have learned are wasted
and will remain upon the shelf;
none will know ’till they have tasted
this bitter cup each to himself,
but to resentment I won’t go,
for that was me, not long ago.
Andrew, your life is a testimony as you share your talent and insight in the midst of your suffering. Thank you for sharing it here.