Testimony #1

Over the next week or so we are going to listen to a few different testimonies.
A testimony is:

• “A formal written or spoken statement, especially one given in a court of law.”

You can have a testimony of an eyewitness that saw a crime.

• “The evidence or proof of something.”

My wet face and red eyes was testimony to the fact that I had been crying.
 
If I merge these together, I come to understand a Testimony as:

• “A statement of proof or evidence of something.”

 
What would your definition be?
 
As a follower of Jesus, I have heard lots of testimonies (and I have my own) of who Jesus is, that He is still alive healing and helping people and how his death on a cross for our sin has impacted many, radically changing their lives. We all have testimonies of how Jesus has impacted our lives. 
 
Watch this YouTube of Bear Grylls’ sharing his testimony titled 'My Faith is My Strength.'

• What was it about Bear’s testimony that made sense to you?
• What didn’t make sense to you?
• What stood out to you, that you hadn’t thought about before?

 
As I mentioned above, we all have our own testimonies of how Jesus impacts our lives. He lives and moves and is with us daily. Which then makes sense that every new day brings the opportunity to seek Him, and see how He is helping and guiding you.

Wrongly, many people think that a testimony is only given on the day you get baptized. And for many, they feel ashamed that their testimony isn't as exciting as the last person. We might love the story shared by the lost person who was a drug addict or the bully in school who has been impacted by Jesus, their life turned around and that they have found home through Jesus' love and forgiveness, but dare I say it, that isn’t really the point. 

We all have the same amazing starting point when it comes to testimonies. Romans 5:6 says:
“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (NRSV)
 
“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.” (NLT)
 
That starting point that Romans says is the fact that Jesus in His good timing, whilst we all were weak, utterly helpless and still so far from loving Him (ungodly or sinners), it was Jesus who moved first, loved first, He chose to die for us so that we can be forgiven and set free.
 
At the end of the day when I am putting my kids to bed the last line of our prayer time I repeat this:
God I thank you that you love us and that we can see that love through your Son and  that through your Son Jesus, you are making everything good.

• Do you know that it is in our weakness, in our utter helplessness that Jesus moves!
• How is Jesus impacting your life today?
• What would you share about him?
• Do you know that He died for you?

 
PeaceInHim,
Pastor Luke