1Tim 4:10-12 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
A defendant was on trial for murder. There was strong evidence indicating guilt, but there was no corpse. In the defense's closing statement the lawyer, knowing that his client would probably be convicted, resorted to a trick: "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you all," the lawyer said as he looked at his watch. "Within one minute, the person presumed dead in this case will walk into this courtroom."
He looked toward the courtroom door. The jurors, somewhat stunned, all looked on eagerly. A minute passed. Nothing happened.
Finally the lawyer said, "Actually, I made up the previous statement. But you all looked on with anticipation. I therefore put it to you that there is reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was killed and insist that you return a verdict of not guilty."
The jury, clearly confused, retired to deliberate. A few minutes later, the jury returned and pronounced a verdict of guilty.
"But how?" inquired the lawyer. "You must have had some doubt; I saw all of you stare at the door."
The jury foreman replied: "Oh, we did look, but your client didn't."
Oops! It was evident from the way he acted that the defendant didn't really believe the victim was still alive.
Let me ask you a question: As the world looks at our lives, is it evident to them that we believe in THE LIVING GOD? Oh, I know we've made the case, we've argued the evidence, we've proclaimed the truth that "Our God, He is Alive!" But the world may be looking not so much at the evidence we present, as our demeanor, to see if it matches what we say we believe.
May it be evident to the people around us by the way we act that we serve THE LIVING God!
Friday, April 3, 2009
THE LIVING GOD
Posted by Dr Dave Noffsinger at 5:07 AM
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3 comments:
Very good post! How true it is that people see what we do a lot more, at times, that what we say.
Amen. Speaking of evidence, Faith gets the front spot in line (Hebrews 11:1). One's loyalty to a body of truth speaks louder than all the "intelligent design" rhetoric.
What a great illustration! May God help us to live and practice all we preach!
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