Lenten Devotion Day 29 – Testify

March 27

Matthew 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Media:  “Testify” is a spoken-word poem that prompts us to examine how our lives speak of the goodness of God.

Response:   Write an encouraging note to someone who you know is struggling with their faith.

Prayer Focus:  Lord, help me to shine your light for others to see.

Note:  If you would like to spend some time pondering on the words of this powerful poem, at the bottom of this post is a written transcript of the poem.

 

Testify by Lo the Poet

they want to know if God is good,

they want to know what he’s really like

he tells them to taste and see and then he calls us salt and light

you know what that means right

Means they won’t ask the stars

means a horoscope won’t point anyone to a God who casts out fear

Means the sky can’t depict a risen son better than we can

they want to know if He’s real but not just real but like sincere

Is he a judgmental sin-seer wanting to send searing pain into sinners

Is he all correction or is he just correct

the right side of the wrong argument

more religion than he is relationship

more fact than he is father

they’ll ask does God Christian like we Christian

does our witness effectively testify of his Image if our actions speak louder than Our words

is his love even a conversation worth having

I was broken once

tried to fake

fashioned myself whole and then burst into thread

my god knit my heart back together with his Love and even wove me into the tapestry of his kingdom

I’m new now praise that

Cross stitched back into his image

Made alive of the same love that weaves his wonder throughout the world

they want to know if God still sews

If he still holds a harvest of hope

He says the world ought to know by the fruit of our love

They won’t ask our buildings

In fact our hope should point to him

That’s foundation

They won’t ask our gifts

In fact our generosity should show that he alone is our treasure

That he’s buried himself deep within our hearts

Our lives are maps

Every once in a while we ought to ask

Where we’re leading the people that read us

When we unfold ourselves at the altar

And we not praise the grace that we are unwilling to share

We were broken once

A world deprived of God, we built our own

Let nature turn to city then watch city turn to ruins

Still God moved in

Sent the begotten to break the bondage

Told the fallen that they aren’t forgotten

Light puts to death

gets swallowed by darkness

that empties the grave to fulfill his promise

Christ has come

Crept into our wilderness and turned to Eden

His love has overcome

Surely we’ve got some seeds to sow

They want to know if God is good

If his love is as electric as we say

And they won’t ask our preaching

Won’t ask our sermons our  Sunday service

Our world asks questions and our relationship with God

Will be more answer than our answers will

It should lead us to give just like we’ve been given to

Should lead us to pray just like we’ve been prayed for

Should lead us to love just like we’ve been loved

We’ve been loved

Let’s be love

Amen

Devotions from Previous Days

Devotions from Previous Days

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