PRAY IT! Thirst Things First - John 5:31-47

"But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true."  John 5:32 (NLT).

Picture this:  Someone is peddling a delightful beverage.  It's the best beverage ever.  They keep raving about the beverage, but you begin to notice something.  It's 90 degrees out with 100000000 percent humidity.  They're clearly sweating.  But they do not take a drink.  They talk so much, their voice begins to get hoarse.  You assume their mouth is dry.  You see all these cues... these symptoms... that would indicate they should probably drink something.  They have an entire case of this beverage they are raving about right there.  They are even waving an open one in your face.  But they don't drink it.  Something doesn't add up.

Do you buy their beverage?  Or do you size them up as crazy or hypocritical, not fully leaning into/believing in their product, and beat feet as fast as you can?

Picture someone else... in their living room alone, sipping on the best beverage ever.  It truly is.  They stay in their living room, enjoying their beverage quietly... savoring the moment.  When the beverage is complete, they go about their day, contentedly, but as though nothing phenomenal was encountered.  A neighbor pops by, sweaty from some yard work.  Though they have a whole pitcher of the best beverage ever in their fridge... more than they could drink on their own... they simply chat with their neighbor while they drink some regular water, and then send them on their way.

What gives?  Is it a lack of awareness?  Withholding joy?  Is it selfishness?  Whatever the reason, the end is the same:  something was withheld.

Now apply the same level of ridiculousness to Christians who mis-proclaim with mismatched words/actions or withhold the good news of Jesus.

It's probably not a testimony about Jesus if it's not true... it's probably not a testimony about Jesus if it's not proof... and it's probably not a testimony about Jesus if not about Jesus.  It's also probably not a testimony about Jesus if the words never come out of your mouth, no matter how much you authentically love him.

There's power in a life that bears witness to Jesus.

Is yours?

Does your mouth and your life match up and give testimony to Jesus?  Does your mouth open up?  John the Baptist did it.  The woman at the well did it.  Paul did it.  Even God did it.  We can do it too.

Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God.  And God has testified about his Son.  1 John 5:9.

Scripture says our sin testifies against us.  Isaiah 59:12 (NLT):  For our sins are piled up before God and testify against us.  Yes, we know what sinners we are.  Yuck.  Thankfully, we have Jesus, our redeemer and ultimate Thirst Quencher.  However, our testimony will be much more powerful if we LET Jesus do some redeeming and we LET Jesus do some Thirst Quenching in our own lives.

Let us individually and collectively pray for harmony among our words, our actions, and Jesus, and pray with the following heart this week, the following lyrics from For King and Country:   "Let my life be the proof, the proof of your love".