I once overheard a conversation between two friends. They spoke of their responses to a hypothetical situation; if their partner’s past lives had been *insert wild past here* What would they do? Regarding one of their hypothetical scenarios, one friend’s face twisted in distaste as she explained she couldn’t handle it because frankly, ‘some testimonies just don’t bang’ to her.
Funny? Maybe.
True? It shouldn’t be.
A testimony recounts how one came to repent of their sinful ways and know Christ or just telling someone about your relationship with God.
While someone’s past in the world may not appeal to us, it does not change the truth that their testimony is powerful. All testimonies are. That we came from darkness into light is nothing to be ashamed of but much to be celebrated!
Our Testimony Saves Others
“Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.” John 4: 42
Francine Rivers wrote a stirring story inspired by Prophet Hosea and God’s instruction to him to marry a prostitute. She impressively encapsulates the many emotions and moments the couple goes through along the journey from the wife’s sinful life to coming to know Christ.
When the wife leaves her past and gives up her life to follow Christ wholeheartedly, she becomes a catalyst of change in the lives of many others. She uses the power of her testimony to pull many other young ladies into the light too. Furthermore, the testimony in the book also draws many to repentance.
Our testimony can save many others too. It is a tool of evangelism.
Just like the Samaritan woman at the well. A woman with many husbands, she must have been looked down upon by the people in her city. However, when she met Jesus, all shame left the chat. She ran to testify, saying ‘come and meet a man who told me everything I did’.
Wait.
Everything you did? Sis… you’re living with a man that isn’t your husband… you’ve had… Why would you celebrate that someone has called you out?
Because the light of God may convict us but it does not shame us. His perfect love covers us and embraces us and reminds us of the future we have ahead in Him. The shame is not ours, but rather the enemies; he has been exposed and lost.
Her focus was not her shortcoming, it was on the Messiah, her saviour. The living water He offered her. Her encounter with Jesus. She was so transformed; she ran to tell the whole town. And like a testimony does, it pulled others to Jesus. Who was this man? What could He offer me?
No Shame in Glory
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. Romans 1:16
Why hide who we once were? There is power in your testimony and beauty in your scars. They aren’t to be covered and hidden, or silenced and not spoken about. They should be shared and celebrated. They point others to God! We have nothing to be ashamed of about who we were; the joy and glory is in who we now are, what the Lord has done for us and in us.
So, tell your testimony! Don’t let the lies of the enemy hold you back. Tell everyone about what the Lord has done. Let your testimony point to Him. Tell the world about how He won the battle and called it your victory.
There is power in your testimony.
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11
Grab a copy of ‘Seventy: A Work In Progress’, our founder, Dara Olagbami’s, story. A testimony of love, grace and restoration!
Have a testimony to share? We’d love to hear how God has moved in your life!
Get in touch by emailing hello@gracemagonline.com
Words by Tumi Mary
