From God comes…
From God comes your testimony which is your story of becoming a Christian or perhaps a specific time when God protected, delivered, or did something special that impacted your life greatly. Testimonies of encountering God are personal and meant to be shared with others.
The Latin root for testimony is “testis” which means “witness.” A personal testimony is an “eye witness” account of what happened to you from your perspective. Jesus told the early church that they would be witnesses for Him throughout the earth. (Acts 1:8)
Witnesses in biblical times were very important. Most of the people were poor and many were illiterate. The average person couldn’t read or write, so many things weren’t written down or recorded. Therefore, sharing what you had seen, heard, or experienced was important. Therefore, the Bible is full of examples of those who witnessed for Christ in various ways. Here are a few examples.
A man who had been blind from birth was healed by Jesus on the Sabbath. As a result, the Pharisees declared that Jesus could not be from God. The blind man responded by stating that he didn’t know who Jesus was, but he did know one thing. “I was blind and now I see.” (John 9:25)
The apostle Peter was a tent maker. He was a bit impetuous and made mistakes, yet his love for Christ and enthusiasm for the gospel was almost contagious. When Peter gave the sermon on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, he could attest to the miracles, wonders, and signs Jesus performed. He said, “God has raised Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of that fact.” (Acts 2:32)
Paul was an intellectual. He knew the arts, philosophy, and law. He used his logic and reasoning to become all things to all people. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23) He once persecuted Christians but then became one. His changed life was part of his testimony, but he was also a persuasive orator. He spoke comfortably in Athens, the center of philosophy, and defended himself in court so adeptly that he almost persuaded King Agrippa to become a Christian. (Acts 17, Acts 26:28)
The Samaritan woman had three strikes against her. First, she was a Samaritan. Jews did not speak to Samaritans because they were considered religiously impure. Second, she was a woman. In those days, women were to be seen and not heard. Her third strike was living in adultery. Yet Jesus chose to share the gospel with her. (John 4) She was so happy about this that she told all her neighbors, family, and friends. As a result of her testimony, many believed. (John 4:39-43)
Testimonies are important today, as well. (Revelation 12:11) I don’t think God wants us to pounce on unsuspecting people and shove Christ down their throats. However, He doesn’t want us to shy away from sharing what God has done for us. God has given each of us a personal testimony, so we can readily share it with those who ask—for the hope that lies within us! (1 Peter 3:16) That hope is Jesus.
“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”
~James 1:17 (NLT)
