The Godblogosphere’s Powers That Be elected today “Testimony Tuesday,” so I thought I better fall in line lest I be numbered among the transgressors. As someone of whom it was once said, “He’s got the worst testimony I’ve ever heard,” don’t expect a whole lot. For the curious, that notorious testimony can be found here.
I think knowing another’s testimony binds us together. One day, I hope to hear the testimony of every member of my church. I’d be blessed if you posted your own testimony in the comments here.† We preach the Gospel to others by telling our own stories of coming to Christ. Those stories build our faith.
The best testimony I think any Christian can give is to go to the grave in such a way that others say, “That one finished the race sprinting.” Over the last few years, I’ve come to believe that how we act out the faith is the best testimony we can give. May it be that every person we encounter in our daily journey can point to us and say, “Because of the way they live, we can see Jesus.”
Talk is good. Actions are better.
Live out the Gospel today in a way that radiates Jesus to everyone you meet.
Have a blessed day!
† If you don’t know how to write a testimony, someone’s actually gone to the great length to post an outline for doing so. By their standard, I guess mine once again doesn’t measure up!
With the perspective you offer, I guess my short-life lived as a Christian deserves no attention. I should briefly say that by the grace of God I am what I am. My conversion began with sovereign grace and I believe God will finish what he began the day he has appointed for me to drop.
Rather than spotting the light on myself, I certainly recommend the readers of this site to read biographies or journals. One that will inspire you particularly is “The Life and Diary of David Brainerd”. Short life. Great impact.
And let all due glory be to God through Jesus Christ.
I guess my testimony would be heckled at the same church by the same lady.
I was a good kid, went to church, got good grades, didn’t hang with the wrong crowd, was a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout (getting Eagle Scout), I did my homework, didn’t party, smoke, do drugs, or engage in pre-marital sex. I was in the Choir, the Science Club, and the Drama Club. Then when I was 17 I went to a week-long youth retreat on the beach.
I really went for the girls because if other youth groups were like mine I was going to be outnumbered 2-3 times (and that was a good thing). I met some girls, but saw that the longings in my heart were better filled by Christ’s work on the cross but to have this gift I would need to accept it by faith. I came to faith at that conference.
I was “saved from Hell” by the “three day gospel” when I was a child. I don’t remember a time when I did not believe in Jesus – His death, burial and resurrection (the three day gospel). However, I did not understand then that I died with Christ on that cross. His death was in order to cleanse me for His indwelling…
In 2001, I met a man, John Brown, who introduced me to the Gospel of the Kingdom (the three and a half year gospel). He asks the question – “what gospel did Jesus preach?” (Mark 1:14,15)
For 3 1/2 years He was on this earth preaching and teaching His disciples – not about His death, burial, and resurrection! (Luke 9:43-45) – but about how to live the supernatural life of Another. He only did what His Father told Him to do.(John 5:19,20, John 12:49,50) He and the Father are One -He lived out of His Father’s strength.
Well, this GOOD NEWS brought me out of a deep depression. My only Hope is Christ in me (the Hope of Glory). I can do nothing apart from the Vine. Trying in my own strength is useless – even though I still do sometimes.
“I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless, I live. Yet not I, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith OF the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Hallelujah! It’s not about me! It’s ALL about HIM!
When giving my testimony, I preface it with the statement that I wish I had a “boring” one of a life filled with Christianity and obedience. You’ll get no heckling from me about that kind of walk with the Lord.
I was raised in a Catholic household, attending Catholic school. At 13, I was confirmed and apparently my parents decided that I was an adult in the eyes of the church. I made my own decision about Mass, and that decision was to skip it.
I had three encounters with Christians in the next seventeen years. Otherwise, I lived the secular life of a single, young, professional woman with a good job and plenty of disposable income. I won’t go into details but it was not a moral life.
The first time someone asked me “if I knew Christ” was at a party. The young man asking the question was rolling a joint. I didn’t even know what the question meant but figured God would say “don’t smoke pot” so I dismissed him immediately.
The second time was a comment my best friend (a Baptist) made in the midst of another party. It was something like “I’m covered by the blood of the lamb but I’m a backslider.” I was clueless as to what she meant.
The third time was on a bus as I was going to work after finding out my mother’s cancer was in remission. I said the first heartfelt “thank you God” that I had ever uttered. I felt such peace and my conscience started bothering me about my lifestyle.
Fast forward to 1990 when I’m a 30 year old, in a marriage that was falling apart, and 3000 miles from friends and family. I was heavily involved in the women’s movement (not conducive to a happy marriage) and deeply unhappy with life. I volunteered at a domestic violence shelter filled with pastor’s wives. One of them invited me to her church, an Assemblies of God.
I attended and was baffled by most of the service and phrases. However, I kept attending and on April 1, 1990 became a Christian. I was totally green but took my pastor’s advice to heart about reading my Bible and praying for guidance and salvation for others in my family.
One funny note: on the afternoon of 4/1/90, I called that Baptist friend and said “why didn’t you TELL me I was going to hell??!!” We laugh about that to this day. She’s back to serving the Lord for many years now.
I hope this wasn’t too long —- sorry if it was. I just know that I went from no interest in “religion” to a deep relationship with my Savior and I’m so grateful to Him. I’m thankful that Judy, the pastor’s wife, was willing to ask the president of the local NOW chapter to her church. 🙂
I grew up in the church and never really got it. I graduated high school and became a Marine. This is pretty much when the tug began.
I was just like any other “recruit” at boot camp, no name, no special thoughts, we were all told what to do and when to do it. The 90 or so men in my platoon chose me to be the Lay Leader. Why me? They didn’t even know who I was or if I was even a believer, but they chose me. I still didn’t get it.
Every night for 13 weeks I read Psalm 91 to those who would listen. Every night for 13 weeks I said a prayer aloud for our platoon. Every Sunday morning I would lead those that wanted to to the auditorium for church service. I still didn’t get it. Boot camp ended and I entered the real world and slid ever farther away from my Maker – finding alcohol, drugs, and many others I need not list here.
I met my wife. We had our first child. About two weeks prior to the first of four births to enlarge our family I decided that we needed to go to church. We went and I still didn’t get it.
I got out of the Corps after serving honorably for five years and we moved to Chicago. We started going to church the first weekend there. After a few months I began playing guitar with the Pastor during the services and felt I was moving in the right direction spiritually. However, I still didn’t really get it. Something was missing from me. I knew it in my head, but my heart was still somewhat blackened by all of what I had carried with me throughout my life.
Then, by the pushing of my Pastor, I went on a retreat weekend. Day one, nothing – good times of fellowship, some decent songs, some pretty nice guys. Day two, it started to sink in, I could feel something pressing down on me – from the inside. That night I got it. The connection was made from my head to my heart. I cried out for something I had never really asked for, forgivenness, and it was granted.
I know this comes a day late, but thought I’d share. The past few years have been a blossoming for me since that Walk to Emmaus weekend. Many things took place during all of this that lead up to that weekend that I didn’t see until after it took place, and I know now it was only by the grace of God that I am here to share this with you. I know He’s always with me and He always has been – even when I wasn’t willing to acknowledge Him.
Aaron,
Thank you for sharing your testimony, even a day late. I’m reading it 3 days later! It gives me hope. My 17 year old, brought up in a Christian home, has rejected and turned away from the faith he seemed to once have. He goes to Army Basic Training in July. I’ve been praying since he enlisted last August that this would be the very thing and time that God would use to bring him to his lowest so that He could truly see the truth with a soft heart.