September 28-October 4
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In the last post for this week, we talked about the Lord calling out idols for being useless. He challenges them to prophesy or explain past things as He does. He invites Israel to come and judge with Him. He tells them to come and see whether these manmade idols have any worth, to discern for themselves that the Lord is the only God.
He does that in Isaiah 43 again, but there is a little addition that I want to cover.
Isaiah 43:9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.
So the Lord is telling the nations to gather together and his people to assemble and observe. He then asks the nations, “Which of you can declare the future or show us the past? Bring your witnesses.” Then He adds this:
Isaiah 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
So in the previous chapter, the Lord is like, “Israel come and judge and see if these idols are worth anything.” They are the observers, the jury. In this chapter, He is calling upon Israel as His witness to stand before the world and testify. They are no longer the jury, listening and observing and trying to discern truth. They have been called to be witnesses and share the truth.
I love the transition from jury to witness. I think observing the differences between jury duty and the call to be a witness can help us understand our responsibilities.
As part of the jury, you are largely silent. You’re listening and observing. You’re showing up to see, paying close attention, observing patterns, and seeking the truth, but no one is asking for your opinion immediately. The Lord asks you to be the jury first. Have you done this part? Did you show up to see? Did you come with impartiality? Did you take your role seriously or are you caught up in other responsibilities? Do we understand the gravity of what we’ve been asked to observe?
Being a part of the jury is an essential first step, but it’s not the end. You’re not just here on earth to observe. You’re here to become. I’m going to repeat that because it comes into play later. You’re here to become.
If you have fulfilled your role as jury, do you feel prepared to step into your new role as witness?
There are two definitions of “witness.”
The first definition is, “a person who sees an event.”
As a witness in a court room, it’s your job to tell the truth about what you’ve observed. Do you know what you’re talking about? Do you present yourself well? Can they feel the truthfulness of your words?
When you really think about a scenario in the courtroom, the jury is trying to discover the truth of the matter. In this case, they’re trying to determine whether God truly is the only God. When you share your testimony, they’re not just collecting information. People will be listening to your testimony, but what they are truly judging is your credibility. They are making judgment calls about who you are.
Which actually leads me to the second definition of “witness.”
The second definition (a definition I didn’t originally think of) is more interesting to me. A witness is also “evidence, proof.” A witness is not just someone who gives evidence; a witness can be the evidence. Standing as a witness means talking about our observations of Jesus Christ, but standing as a witness also means being the evidence or proof of Jesus Christ. There are a few interesting ideas surrounding this idea of being the evidence. Let’s talk about two of them.
Idea one: What does it look like to be evidence of Jesus Christ?
Honestly, I think it looks like being filled with joy. We live our lives in a certain way. We are a peculiar people, but more importantly, we feel confident in His promises and that brings joy and peace. That means on some days, I’m waking up and praying and feeling joyful for all I’ve been given. On other days, I wake up and lean on Him for comfort in the dark times. It doesn’t mean persistent, fake happiness. It means a fulfilling, hopeful, peaceful life.
It also means a life of integrity. People can trust you. You’re consistent in doing good and loving others.
And honestly, this is really where I found my own “evidence” of Christ: in becoming the evidence. I have collected plenty of spiritual experiences throughout my life. I had heard little whispers of the spirit, and I used to cling to those to try and prove my testimony. Unfortunately, I still found myself with doubts. That changed significantly when I became the evidence instead of trying to collect it. I have this relationship with Him that is very real. He has changed my life for the better.
Idea two: Becoming the witness (evidence) came from sharing my witness.
I found my relationship with Christ by sharing what I did know. I knew of Him before. I had experiences with Him. I had beliefs and misconceptions and internalizations surrounding Him. But choosing to invest time and energy into sharing what I knew about Him invited Him into my life, and now He’s my Friend. It turned me into a more active participant in our relationships and therefore, strengthened our relationship.
He is already the active party in your relationship. He is fully committed regardless of what you’re currently choosing. If you want to reap the benefits, you simply have to engage.
So stand up from being the jury and choose to be a witness. It will change you into the evidence of Christ, and it is the most satisfying experience.
I testify of Christ. I testify that my life has become evidence of who He is. Look at how He has changed me. Where I was miserable and distraught before, I am now full of gratitude and joy. Where I was uncertain and scared, I am now full of hope for the future. It is a joyous experience. It has filled my life with light and given me purpose and confidence.
