Testimony

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Psalm 9:13-14 Saved To Tell

Have mercy on me, O Lord! Consider my trouble from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may tell of all your praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Your salvation. Psalm 9:13-14

Thinking about one’s own self is often the at the forefront of the thinking of most people. When they are saved from some difficulty in their life, many feel it is because of who they are and that they are a great asset to the world that is still wanted.

David asked God to have mercy on him, as he had many enemies, then he would be able to tell of His praises to everyone and rejoice in the salvation given him.

Any person who has chosen to repent of sin and believe in Jesus has been saved from condemnation. The salvation provided is not because of something that one did, but because of the work of Jesus. And the work of Jesus was done because of the love of God for people who hated Him.

Since salvation is not provided because of a work a person has done, it is done out of the mercy and grace of God. Some believe that they are saved because of what they had done or who they are. Once a person is saved it is one’s duty to go and tell others of what God has done and to rejoice in that salvation.

People are dying without knowing that there is salvation available. The world needs to hear of the mercy and grace of God and their need to be saved from death. Without God, there is no life or saving from trouble. God saves so one can tell of the salvation available.

From the moment God had mercy upon you and forgave you of your sins, you are saved. This salvation is not only for you, but for you to do a work for God in this world. Begin by rejoicing in that salvation.

Then go out and tell others of what God has done. This is a telling of how God meets your needs from day to day and brings you through difficulties in this life. The world needs to hear how they can be saved from destruction, and you have the message that they need. You are saved so you can tell others.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will give God praise for the salvation provided; that you will tell others of what God has done in your life; and that many will believe in Jesus through your testimony.

Picture by Ricardo Frantz under Unsplash

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Benefit Of Listening And Obeying God

Several weeks ago, I was driving through town in my company work truck. I had come up to a four way stop sign intersection and made a complete stop. There was no one directly at any of the intersections, however, there was one truck coming down the road from my right side. This person had plenty of time to stop for the stop sign from where I saw him.

As I was about to pull out and cross the intersection, I felt God say to stay and not move. I could not understand why I should wait because I had the right-a-way and the truck had plenty of time to stop. But I chose to wait.

The truck ended up barreling through the intersection without even beginning to slow down at all. He was going at least 35-40 mph. Had I not listened and obeyed God, I would have been right in the middle of the intersection when he came through. I would have been hit very hard on the passenger side, most likely causing my truck to rollover, along with who knows how much more damage physically to me and the truck would have occurred.

This makes me think of something Jesus had said,

But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Luke 11:28

Too often I hear God’s voice and don’t want to obey it. Or I know what His word says in the Bible, but do not follow it as I should. God does not speak to us unless it is for our benefit. He knows what is best for us and:

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Psalm 37:23

God will direct my steps if I allow Him to do so and there will be great benefits in doing so. He cares about my life each and every day.

I want to encourage you to listen to what God has to say and then obey it. He is interested in your day to day living.

Picture by John Matychuk under Unsplash

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Exodus 18:8 Tell What God Has Done

Moses told his father-in-law about everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and about all the hardships they had met along the way and how the Lord had saved them. Exodus 18:8

As one goes through life there are many different challenges that he must face. Many will find different ways to overcome those challenges in their own strength and abilities.

People will be proud to talk about how they overcame a problem and will often forget to talk about how others may have helped them in the process. God is seldom seen in the picture.

When Moses father-in-law came for a visit, Moses told him all that God had done for them in rescuing them from Pharaoh and meeting their needs in the wilderness.

Since God is invisible and works in the background of what is going on in one’s life, people often forget to talk about what He has done or is doing. Instead of putting the focus upon God, the focus is placed on self and what one has done.

Having the right focus is important for a believer. One will realize that it is God who gives abilities to overcome the difficulties and challenges thrown his way. Instead of bringing focus to himself, he will point to God and His strength, power and abilities, knowing that he is unable to do anything in and of himself.

As the believer tells others about what God has done, it is being a witness of who God is. This is spreading the gospel message as Jesus commanded all believers to do.

It is also encouraging to other believers who are still in the process of learning and growing in Christ Jesus. And all of it is giving glory to God to whom it belongs.

Over the time of your life, you have most likely been through various challenges in which God has helped you get through. Do not hold this information back from other people but be willing to share what God has done for you.

Let the world know what God has done so that they may know who God is and what He is like. As it will encourage others, it will also help remind you of who is in control and did the work, taking the focus off of yourself and placing it upon God.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will recognize what God has done in your life; that you will tell others of what God has done; that other people will see who God is through your words; and that God will continue to meet all of your needs in His way.