Testify- Part One

Yesterday morning's sermon was on John 4. The first part of the chapter is the familiar story of the woman at the well, but most of our sermon was about the rest of the story, as told in the second half of the chapter. Specifically, I was struck by the impact the woman had by merely sharing her story with other Samaritans: "Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman's testimony."(v39)


She had an encounter with Jesus. She told others and they came to find out more about Him for themselves. (Sidenote: Our associate pastor, Bill, pointed out that even though the book of John is noted for its emphasis on love, John actually uses the word testimony/testify more frequently than he uses the word love.)

I started thinking about my own experience with testifying of God's faithfulness and had an interesting revelation. I have grown more spiritually in the last 4 1/2 years than in the previous 15 that I was a believer. I am convinced that it is due in large part to the fact that I have been telling my story more freely and more often in this period of time. I take no credit for this. Frankly, the presence of three little same-aged people tends to generate a lot of interest as I am out and about. As the questions come, doors are opened for me to tell of the goodness and faithfulness of God in my life.

The ironic thing about sharing my testimony is that the words and the recollection of God's faithfulness tends to minister to me as much as (or more than) anyone with whom I share my story. The remembering strengthens my own faith.

As I have reflected on this over the last couple of days I was left with a couple of questions:
Why is it that I am far more apt to tell people about the great deal I got on something I purchased than I am about the unearned gift of grace and eternal life I have been given? How is it that I can freely caution others about some new cancer risk I read about, but not about the truly deadly consequences of a life without the Lord?

It also reminds me that there is much more to come in this life. I know God did not spare my life 4 years ago for nothing. He has a plan. I have realized that His plan is revealed in its day-by-day unfolding. As I look for His purposes in sparing my life, it brings new excitement and focus to my daily living. It is important to note that I had a story long before my near-death...as do you. We each have a unique testimony of how God has pursued a relationship with us. Why aren't we living like the miracles that we are? Why aren't you sharing your story of hope and redemption?

In addition to our words, our true testimony is often marked in the way we live our daily lives. One of my favorite passages in The Message translation is Romans 12:
"1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."

3I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

9-10Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant."

I was also reminded that rather than merely telling my children what great plans God has for them 'one day,' I should start each morning off encouraging them to look for the great plan He has for their life that day.

We are promised throughout Scripture that the key to finding Him, is simply to look.

More to come tomorrow...