I heard that phrase today for the first time. It’s a new one for me, so I decided I’d explore it a bit and share some thoughts here. What does it mean to guard your testimony?
- John 17:16; John 18:36; Romans 12:2
We are not of this World, just as Christ and the Kingdom are not of this world. If we let ourselves become conformed to the world, what’s the point of our testimony? Your witness is that you are different. - I Peter 3:15
Each one of us needs to know why we are who we are. What is the reason for the things that we do? Your testimony is pretty weak if you don’t really have any reason for anything, if you’re just a Christian because “that’s where my parents went to church,” or “all my friends in high school went to Bible study on Tuesdays.” - II Timothy 2:15
Know the Word of God, and through it know God Himself. You can be the most unconventional and moral person ever, but if you don’t know Christ, you won’t be able to make Him known to the world. That doesn’t mean just listening to the preacher on Sunday morning, or even just doing your homework for Sunday school. It means being in daily communication (at least) with Christ - having a personal relationship with Him. - John 18:20; John 17:15
We must be open with the world. Jesus’ prayer for us is that we are protected from evil, but not that we are taken out of this world. How can we witness and testify to the truth of Christ if we never interact with people who don’t know Him already, or if we only interact with them on a superficial level? - Matthew 10:16
Innocent as doves - if your testimony to Christ crucified, Lord and Savior, is paired with consistent sin and no spiritual growth, then you’re not doing much for the Gospel. No one will take you seriously. They also won’t take you seriously if you’re a bumbling fool, if you have no idea what’s going on, and if you aren’t awake and alert to the world around you - shrewd as serpents.
What do you think it means to guard your testimony? What specific things are you doing to protect your witness?