Tag Archives: bearing witness

May 25
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“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” (1 Chronicles 16:8, NIV)

Today’s scripture is taken from the first words spoken by the priests that served before the ark of the covenant of God. The ark was the physical representation — a reminder, if you will — of the presence of God.

These words were prescribed by David, and are as good today for us as they were thousands of years ago for the Children of Israel.

First, we are invited to “give praise to the Lord.” May all that we do speak well of our heavenly Father.

Next, we are to proclaim His name: That is, to “advertise” that God is. There are many forms of advertising. Some of it is active, and some of it is passive; but all forms carry a message.  Are we proclaiming His name, or are we hiding our relationship to God as if it is of no consequence to us?

Third, our advertising has the purpose of making known to the nations — that is, those who know not God — what God has done for you. This is your story, and no one should be able to tell your story as well as you.

Today, let your life be an advertisement for the goodness of God.  – Luther

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April 18
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“The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return home and tell how much God has done for you.’ So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.” (Luke 8:38-39, NIV)

“You can’t go home again,” is the title of a famous book written by Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938). Returning home is not always a pleasant option. It certainly was not a cheerful thought for the man in today’s scripture, whom Jesus had liberated from the tyranny of demon-possession.

Perhaps the man feared the taunts of those who remembered him in his former state. Perhaps he thought that his new life warranted a fresh start in a new place. Perhaps he thought that he could do more for the reputation of Jesus as a part of the Master’s entourage than he could by returning to the skeptical folks at home.

However, Jesus had other ideas. “Return home and tell how much God has done for you,” Jesus told the man. He is telling you and me the same thing today.

Our task is a simple one: Tell what God has done for you. Our witness, as modeled in the sequence of Jesus’ last words on earth to His church, begins at home (Jerusalem) before extending to our “Judea and Samaria” and to the “end of the earth.” (Please see Acts 1:8.)

Be bold. Give God the glory. No one can tell your story better than you. Be faithful in this simple task.  – Luther

Reminder: As normally done, Daily Encouragement will be on break tomorrow. Have a great day in worship! The risen Lord reigns! Hallelujah!

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April 15
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“In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab.” (Ruth 1:1, NIV)

The great works of God — whether in us, with us, or through us — begin in the most humble and common of circumstances.

The story of Ruth and Naomi and their persistent faith, loyalty, and humility began with the compelling — but utterly common — circumstance of famine, and a humble family’s sojourn to a foreign land for the purpose of surviving the famine.

Be utterly faithful to God in even the most boring of times; and look for Him in the commonplace. We often miss experiencing God because He appears to us in rags when we expect Him only in robes. Whether in rags or in robes, God is God. Be vigilant in all circumstances!  – Luther

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