Introduction: What is my testimony? - Part I
[This is Part 1 of a multi-part article]
My recent thought: "What does it mean to have a good testimony?"
How many of us have heard or thought the following statements/questions?
- Man! I just blew my testimony in front of my co-worker when I got angry.
- When you sin, you blow your testimony.
- That Christian made a big mistake and just blew his/her testimony.
I found a website where a number of people shared their testimony and they all sounded very common and fit the modern-day definition of a testimony. They spoke of their experiences before and after Christ was revealed to them. They spoke of the contrast between their "past lives" and new lives. Is this what a Christian's testimony should be? Seems like it, right?
I found another website that actually provided an outline for how to write a testimony. At the end of the outline, the writer noted to "make sure that your testimony glorifies God". This is very sage advice but does the outline encourage that?
Maybe what we've known as a God-glorifying testimony really isn't. Maybe it is. At the very least, it's worth asking the question "What is my testimony?" Or, better yet the question should be "What should my testimony be and how do I blow it?"
In Part II of this multi-part article, we'll look at what I believe are proper, biblical interpretations of a testimony. In Part III, I hope to encourage Christians toward a Christ-exalting testimony. In the meantime, I encourage you to ask the question, "What is my testimony?"
[Part II]
2 comments:
Its Grace of our Heavenly Father that through the Holy Spirit makes and enables a wretched sinner such I to utter the beauties found in Christ Jesus, your title got it correct: "My Testimony: HIM not me!"...... I probably do not have the words in English to describe how I feel on this subject but I have read a great testimony that I would like to share with you.....
"Thus it was with me."
(Ruth Bryan's personal testimony.)
"Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound!"
Romans 5:20
Ah, indeed! I felt there never was such a wretch,
such a living mass of putrefying sores and corruption!
Others might be worse outside--but I felt the sin was
not less polluting, because it worked chiefly within.
And I thought if the Lord ever saved me, I would be
the greatest wonder in heaven, and that there
never could be such another trophy of redeeming love!
Nothing less than sovereign power and irresistible grace
would ever be sufficient for such a hell-deserving one
as myself!
Thus it was with me. It seemed too good to be
true--that I, who deserved the lowest hell, and had
felt so long as though I were hanging over it--should
be delivered forever from it! "Deliver her from going
down to the pit--I have found a Ransom!"
The blood of Jesus is the only way by which
a poor sinner can enter into heaven itself.
Coming with that precious blood, the vilest
shall not be shut out, for it "cleanses from
all sin."
Secret sin,
open sin,
old sin,
long-continued sin,
sins against light and knowledge,
sins against judgment and mercy,
known sin,
unknown sin,
every kind and manner of sin which a poor
trembling, Spirit-convinced sinner feels--
does this powerful blood take away!
My sins were as scarlet, my guilt of crimson dye;
but blood of a richer hue which flowed out from
the veins of my precious Savior has made me
white as snow! None need despair, since He
has saved such a worthless, hell-deserving one
as myself!
"Where sin abounded, Grace did much more abound!"
Our testimony, as all aspects of our lives, should bring God glory. It is not an account of what we do for God, but what God did for us. The glory comes from a sinner, desrving hell, to be saved by grace. We are a trophy of grace, a testimony to the lost that God is alive. This is the message of a testimony. This is Christ. This is our Savior. Praise be to Him!!!
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