1 Thessalonian 5:21 says, "Test everything. Hold on to the good." The two words that caught my interest today are test and hold. I usually go to the dictionary to get a definition in my mind. It helps my thought process.
The word test is defined as, the means by which the presence, quality, or genuineness of anything is determined; a means of trial.
Hold is defined as, to have or keep in the mind; think or believe and to have or keep in the hand; keep fast; grasp.
We are tested every second of every day. We must make choices and we have to decide...this way or that. I think it is important to step back and "test" things that affect others. Like a trial, weighing the evidence, listening, searching for the truth. Decisions we make need to come from soul searching for what is best for us personally, but more importantly, for our witness to others. When it comes down to it...I think of this song:
Let Others See Jesus in You
While passing thro' this world of sin, And others your life shall view, Be clean and pure without, within, Let others see Jesus in you.
Let others see Jesus in you, Let others see Jesus in you; Keep telling the story, be faithful and true, Let others see Jesus in you.
Your life's a book before their eyes, They're reading it thro' and thro', Say, does it point them to the skies, Do others see Jesus in you?
Let others see Jesus in you, Let others see Jesus in you; Keep telling the story, be faithful and true, Let others see Jesus in you.
What joy 'twill be at set of sun, In mansions beyond the blue, To find some souls that you have won; Let others see Jesus in you.
Let others see Jesus in you, Let others see Jesus in you; Keep telling the story, be faithful and true, Let others see Jesus in you.
Then live for Christ both day and night, Be faithful, be brave, and true, And lead the lost to life and light; Let others see Jesus in you.
Let others see Jesus in you, Let others see Jesus in you; Keep telling the story, be faithful and true, Let others see Jesus in you.
We need to hold on to the Hope. We need to stand firm in what the Word says. We need to hold onto the thought that we are here for others to know our Father. Wow, when I think of that I wonder if I do enough? I'm not talking about busy things. I'm talking about getting on my knees in prayer and knowing where God wants me to serve, who I need to tell and that reminds me of this song:
I Love to Tell the Story
I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true;
It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.
I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story, it did so much for me;
And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.
I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story; ’tis pleasant to repeat
What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.
I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,
’Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.
I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.
Find of the day...album frames. You don't know what an album is? It is the great-granddad of the CD!!!