Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
“To the Law and to the testimony. If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”
Isaiah 8:20
From a conversation with Brother Jimmy.
God did not say,“If they do quote not from this word, there is no light in them.” He said, “If they speak not according to this word”. That is, if our words are not in harmony with the words God has spoken to others, then it can only be “because there is no light” in us. Our ordinary conversation every day ought to be in accord with the Law which God gave Moses and the testimony of Jesus which God gave to the disciples in Acts 2.
“To the Law and to the testimony”, God said. The Law is the Law that God gave to Moses, and the “testimony” is the holy Spirit that God sent to earth on the day of Pentecost as His witness, or testimony, that Jesus is His Son. Jesus came so that we could have that Spirit which testifies of him, and if we have the holy Spirit dwelling within us, our judgments and our words will be in harmony with, or according to the Law and to the testimony of God. In other words, when the Spirit leads us, we truly represent God on earth. We are then His ambassadors because what we do reflects what He does, and what we think reflects what He thought when He gave the Law to Moses and when He poured out the holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost.
Scripture quoting can degenerate to a mental contest played by proud spiritual bullies. One who is led by the Spirit will think right thoughts even if he cannot read the Bible. Knowing the Scriptures and being able to quote them is not the same thing as “knowing the mind of the Spirit.” Knowing the Bible is not the same thing as knowing God. Only by knowing what is of the Spirit and what is not of the Spirit can enable us to “speak according to the Law and the testimony.” But beyond speaking, knowing what is of the Spirit also enables us to behave according to the Law and the testimony.