My Testimony is My Witness!

As I’ve been studying the book of Acts with my Small Group, several things have become apparent to me.  

One, people are flawed and whenever their foundation is shaken they will lash out to protect what they know and believe.  This is evident in what we see in the world today.  People want to feel in control of their lives and when that control (which doesn’t actually exist) is threatened they will lash out – COVID19, racial issues, etc.  This is a heart issue and without the heart changing, people won’t.  That’s why relationship with Jesus is so important.  He is the only one who can change a heart.  

Two, God has already worked out what he’s called us to do.  If God leads you to do a thing, he’s already working out how it will be accomplished.  I don’t believe in coincidence.  God is always working out all the angles to bring about His desired result (Romans 8:28).  God has given us free will, but ultimately, His Word will not return to Him without accomplishing what He set out to do (Isaiah 55:11).  If we are disobedient and don’t do what He calls us to, it will be accomplished another way.  He doesn’t need us to do it, but I believe He uses us so that we will lean on Him more and so that He might change others through our experiences and our walk with Him.   

Three, it’s not our job as Christian’s to change anyone’s mind about who God/Jesus is.  We are to be obedient to God’s Word and tell the Good News of Jesus wherever we go and whenever the opportunity presents itself.  That may require us to adjust our approach so we can reach the most people (1 Corinthians 9:19-23), even those with whom we may disagree.  That can be difficult but it’s what we are called to.  

This is where our testimony comes in.  Each one of us (who knows Jesus intimately), has a testimony, whether it’s how you came to know Jesus or how you were saved from an illness or how God prospered you in a situation.  Each of those stories is unique to us and can’t be refuted by anyone else.  It is a testament to our own experiences with Jesus/God/Holy Spirit (Matt 10:32).  We’re the only one who can really tell our story.  It is our witness.  It is our evidence or proof of who God is to us.  It is our knowledge from personal experience of what God has done.  Telling your story is a powerful tool to touch other people.  

Now, don’t get me wrong.  We all need to study God’s Word and get it inside of us, so that our minds are continually transformed (Romans 12:2).  Without the Word in us, we will be weak and sickly Christians.  But, our testimony does something that thumping a bible at someone won’t.  It brings God into the here and now and brings Him alive in a personal way.  

Jesus died so that we would have an opportunity for a relationship with God through Him, where we are never alone.  No matter what situation we’re in, He is always with us, whether we feel Him or not.  How might sharing that with someone who doesn’t know Him, change their life?  Will they be saved? Will they be encouraged?  Will a seed be planted or watered? Maybe….or maybe not. That’s not our call, but we are called to witness and we don’t have to know every scripture to do it.  We just have to willing to honestly share what God has done for us and we don’t have to use a lot of big, religious words to do it.  Even better, how about your life being your testimony?  More than what we say, what we do affects others (Phil 1:27).  Show and tell your story with Jesus and watch God.  He is able to do exceeding, abundantly, more than we can ask or think.