Today's Stone "My Witness"

Most of us (whether we admit it or not) are often held prisoner of how others perceive us socially, professionally, religiously, and spiritually. By Divine Design, we're driven to want to be accepted, wanted, and appreciated (that's why satan's main goal is to alienate/isolate us, make us feel rejected/unwanted and he tries to de-value or make us feel unappreciated). God intentionally designed us this way, we need each other, we need community, ("it's not good for man to be alone--all one"). So much so we begin to "act" the part. This is often played out in:

• our social gatherings where we tend to morph into someone or something we're not
• it could happen on our jobs where we perpetrate a persona of "importance" (I'm the only one who can do my job...)
• we see it happen in the church "as Methodists we/I can't--won't..., as Baptist we/I can't--won't..., as Pentecostals we/I can't--won't...)
• and finally spiritually, I/we must be seen as separate, distinct, called, tuned in, tapped in....it goes on and on.

In all of this the question is, What/Who are we witnessing (or in today's term "modeling") for? Ourselves; our families; our traditional beliefs; our Pastor; our church; our denominational affiliation? Jesus said you will be "MY" witness. Any other witness is counter to what He demands of us. That's why we feel condemnation when we try to witness to anything/anyone other than Him. We place judgment on ourselves and others. When we get to the understanding that He accepts us (and He does) we experience His forgiveness and Love, His acceptance and approval, His strength and power. Our witness is false when it involves us trying "to be" what "we want" others to perceive us to be, but when we witness for Him He will testify on our behalf that our witness is true by working signs and wonders through us. If our witness is false we will bare no fruit for we have no part in Him. Jesus is Faithful and True. It is He that we are called to be witnesses for and it is He that witnesses for us to the Father (see Luke 9:26) In the reference scripture below, Jesus teaches us that even He doesn't bare witness of Himself but there is another that does and that witness is True.

Scripture reference: "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true." John 5:31

Thought to ponder: "If I bear witness of my-self"...my-self acceptance; my-self approval; my-self righteousness; my-denomination; my-religion; my-traditions..., my witness is NOT TRUE.

Be blessed....