6 Oct, 2008
"Panama City breeds a lot of interest, especially during the warm spring weather. But Jodee Berry, who was age 26 at the time, figured out a way to turn up the heat on a Hooters restaurant without changing the recipe of their hot wings. Jodee claimed that back in 2001, she was promised a new Toyota for winning a beer sales contest. But when her boss led her to the parking lot blindfolded, her prize was revealed to be a new toy Yoda (little green Jedi master from Star Wars). . . She claimed the promotion was a fraud."
Story and picture courtesy of legalpublication.blogspot.com, Sept. 2007
Friend or Fraud?
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about being a witness for Christ?
When a court of law calls an individual to be a witness for a case, they fully expect that individual to give their honest and best recollection of a situation, or series of events. Many times, it is this witness that helps a jury in determining the final judgment of a defendant. A witness who takes the stand only to tell lies and manipulate the truth can cause a jury to pass the wrong judgment against an individual, or group of people.
As Christians, our job is to be the best, most honest witness we can be for Christ. The world has placed Jesus on trial and we may be the only witness they see bearing testimony of His character and evidence of His faithfulness. If you're at all familiar with the philosophy behind living a 3story lifestyle, you know that authenticity is key - we can't show people how much they need Jesus without first showing them how much we need Jesus every day!
If we are bearing false witness by pretending to be someone we're not (perhaps, a "perfect" Christian) then we are doing nothing but harming the the case for Christ. Why are we sometimes tempted to lie, or not tell the "whole" truth when it comes to sharing our lives with others? Why are we tempted to make the Christian life sound better or more enticing than it is? Truth be told, it's tough!! But when we tell lies about our relationship with Christ and who He is in our lives, people feel dooped and we present Him as a fraud - something nobody wants to be a part of!
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
Are you a "fraud" when it comes to being a witness for Christ? Have you convinced those around you that your life or your relationship with Jesus ais more or different than it really is? What kind of witness are you? A truthful one, or one that tells lies?
- Pray and ask God to truly search your heart and reveal to you any way in which you are bearing false witness of Him. Confess it and ask for forgivness in those areas.
- Journal some reasons why you may be tempted to make your walk with Christ sound different than it truly is. How can you learn to be a more authentic and honest witness?
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and our story to others?
- Without sharing all of the "gory details," be honest with your friends about some of your struggles and share the ways in which God is helping you work through them. It can be a great way to help your friends better understand God's grace and forgiveness.
- When you allow yourself to be real and authentic with others, you will become more approachable to people around you. When they see that you still have a need for Jesus (as much today as the day you began a relationship with Him), they will see their need for Him as well.
- May 2012 [14]
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