"The Truth of Jesus is the Fact of Science"

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The Truth of Jesus is the Fact of Science APF DEVOTIONAL

The World Needs Your Testimony, Not Platitudes

"Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes, your defenses are defenses of clay."  (Job 13:12)

Thus is the verdict of all, "platitudes;" they are, "ashes,..clay."  The dictionary defines platitude as "a flat, dull, or trite remark, especially one uttered as if it were fresh or profound."  They are "flat, dull" because they are empty of life, usually a product of someone else's thinking.  Some people offer, "platitudes," because they think they will get them just as accepted, admired, praised as the big name people who invented them.  Some people cannot think for themselves.  If they could not utter the latest "platitudes," the latest "in" jargon of Christendom, they would really have nothing to say.  Or would they?  The sad reality is that everyone of us has a testimony in Jesus Christ which thousands of people are desperately waiting to hear.  Don't let, "platitudes...of ashes,...defenses...of clay," rob your testimony of its impact. 

Every time through Job, I see the cliche-platitudes of the four would-be counselors of Job.  The older three were rejected out of hand by the Almighty.  The youngest was simply ignored; he was no better.  Everything which came from the four of them was condescending, religious, "ashes," and, "clay."  God only commended Job as the one who had, "....spoken of Me what is right...."  You can scrutinize what the four men said, and some of it seems good, even acceptable Biblical truth.  But if I read Job correctly, when anyone offers Biblical truth in a manner of, "platitudes," they are meaningless.  It seems as though the Good Words of God are somehow defiled by the, platitude syndrome, do nothing for the hearer, and have no approval of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Have you ever asked a person how they were doing?  You knew something was wrong, but pride and the desire to be thought of as some super-spiritual person kept them from sharing their deepest feelings.  Yet isn't this what binds Followers of Jesus Christ in the fellowship of the Redeemed?  Pride and the desire to impress will rob us every time of a true "comforter" from the Lord.  Muse today on your testimony which Jesus gave you, that great deliverance, that healing, that joy, peace, and unspeakable comfort in the midst of, "the valley of the shadow of death," where Jesus Christ enabled you to overcome and, "fear no evil, for Thou art with me," His, "so great a salvation," Who is Jesus Christ.  

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for the great testimony which You imparted to me in Jesus and Your Words.  May I never defile it with, "platitudes...of ashes."  Amen.

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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2