A living witness

            In the Old Testament, when a monumental event took place the person involved would erect a Standing Stone or stones.  These were large stones set on end or perhaps a pile of stones arranged in a particular order or shape according to what was available.  When others saw it they would stop and ask “What happened here?”  They were stones of testimony.  When the person involved passed that way again they were reminded of the event and of God’s instruction or provision, and could use it as an opportunity to share what God had done with his children.  We see this done in Genesis 28 after Jacob’s dream of a ladder to heaven, and again in Exodus 24 when Moses reconfirms the covenant between God and His people.  Joshua and Samuel both erected standing stones.

“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house…”

 I Peter 2:5

            Peter calls us living stones.  We as individuals are being built into the Church, which stands as a living testimony to what God is doing, of His provision and instruction in our world today.  We are Standing Stones.  When people see us and the manner in which we live our lives and conduct ourselves in the world, they should stop and ask “What happened here?  Why is this person different?”  When they ask, we can give the answer “God happened here.  Here’s how He changed my life…”  Our very lives are to be stones of testimony.

            We can have a testimony of peace in the midst of adversity.  We can be a witness of God’s power at work even when we are at our weakest.  The church should be standing as a testimony of truth and righteousness.    

           Too often we testify instead to defeat and despair.  We could be standing as a pillar of love to our community.  Instead we are often another social club. We need to be making thoughtful choices, living intentionally. Our actions inform people’s opinion of God. What are we doing to his reputation?  We are a testimony; the question is to what are we testifying?