Living The Testimony

Ezra 7:10
Every Christian is unique, and comes from a different background and upbringing. Likewise, every Christian was raised with different traditions and standards. Nevertheless, despite the diversity, every Christian has one thing in common; every Christian has a story, a testimony of our faith and walk with Jesus Christ. Some testimonies are dramatic and emotional. They speak of being delivered from great difficulties, while others are as simple as “I was born and raised in a Christian family, and do not remember a time when I didn’t know God.” The problem is that no matter what the testimony is, far too often it fails to line up with the testimony that we live. As a result our testimony becomes sadly ineffective. For, if our walk with God is not important to us, then it’s not going to be important to anyone else. Every Christian has a testimony; however, the question is, are we living the testimony? More important than that is how do we live the testimony?

I have found what I believe is the perfect example of living the testimony in Ezra 7:10. It simply reads, “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel (Ezra 7:10).” Ezra knew the difference, he lived the difference, and he made a difference. He did not stop at the study of God’s word, nor did he stop at applying it to his own life, but he took the word of God that so richly dwelt inside him, and used it to bless the world within his reach, “Teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.” Again, Ezra knew the difference, he lived the difference, but most importantly, he made the difference. That is what it means to live the testimony. It’s more than a speech or verbal account of our faith and walk with God; instead, it’s our faith expressed and made evident through every facet of our lives to the benefit of the world around us. The Psalmist rejoices “my cup overflows (Psalms 23:5).” Perhaps not because of how much he has, but because of how much he has to bless others. Thus God has prepared his table in the presence of his enemies. The bottom line is that our testimony is greater than mere words, and has more to do with the way we conduct ourselves, then the way we testify about ourselves. We need to know the difference in order to live the difference, and we need to live the difference if we are ever going to make the difference. In other words, we need to live the testimony. [mp]

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Michael D'Urbano
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