The True Witness
October 13, 2008 by zgardener
THE NINTH COMMANDMENT
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor (Exodus 20:16).
First, the obvious meaning is very important although it is only the beginning—do not tell lies about people
We have to apply this principle of not bearing false witness right throughout our lives. It is very important to practice because whatever you say about another person will happen to you, yourself. If you lie about another person— that is an unpleasant word but I am using it because is the right word—someone will lie about you. Jesus says so in the seventh chapter of Matthew, verses one and two:
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
However, the fundamental meaning of this commandment, “Thou shalt not bear false witness,” Is that you always express what you are. You cannot be one thing and express another. Emerson says, “What you are shouts so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.” We are always witnessing to what we are. So again, “Thou shalt not” really means “You cannot”—you cannot permanentl y bear false witness.
The true witness is the full expression of God’s man. You will be bearing true witness to your neighbor when you are regenerated in soul. What does regeneration mean? It means the building of a new soul, not correcting the old one. When you change the soul, automatically the flesh changes, the skin changes, the blood vessels and the nerves and the bones change. But regeneration must begin with a change in the soul, not with anything in the outer world.
When we really know these things, we shall be bearing true witness.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a fully regenerated soul today? It is possible to go to sleep tonight with a brand new soul. Try this. Just for today, think and act in accordance with the ten commandments. Accept that God can, and is, sending you all you need to be happy and joyful. Release all your doubt and fear just for today. (You can come back fo r them later if you still want them). Finally, face the truth about yourself, ask for forgiveness, let go of all your guilt and self-recrimination because God does not want you to have them. Now this can be done in one day, or you can take a life time to do it or you can never do it. Which sounds best to you?
Living new,
Z gardener
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