‘You are my witnesses, declares the LORD’ (Isaiah 43:12)

We are to witness to the truth, power and sweetness of the Christian faith; to the goodness, holiness and faithfulness of God. We are to witness to the world, by our spirit, testimony and conduct; we are to witness to poor, doubting, fearful souls.

Our witness should be unequivocal, and should be borne with courage, constancy and love. Our testimony should be from experience. Do we know the Lord? Are we daily experiencing the power of truth in our hearts? Does it free us from slavish fear, the love of the world, and the dominion of sin? Can we say that we have known and believed the love which God has shown toward us – that God is love?

Are we saying to those around us, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; there is no want to those who fear Him”? Suppose we should be called to bear witness before judges or kings; in the prison or at the stake; how would it be with us then?

Could we witness that God is good and gracious; that He is enough to make us happy; if He were to strip us as He did Job, or test us as He did Paul, He says, “YOU ARE MY WITNESSES”.

Give me to bear Thy easy yoke,
And every moment watch and pray;
And still to things eternal look,
And hasten to Thy glorious day.
I would Thy daily witness be,
And prove that I am one with Thee.

 

THE DAILY REMEMBRANCER by James Smith (1802-1862)

Journal Jottings

‘Lord, how long! When I look back, a thousand things grieve and pain me, but nothing more than the want of sincerity among some of my former flock. When I look around me, I see a beautiful chapel, a dense population, but no spirit of hearing. When I look within, I see more and more the depravity of my own heart, and the filthiness of my own polluted nature’.