PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• Testimonials are powerful tools.
My husband and I both refer to customer ratings when we’re looking at an online purchase.
We want to make sure we’re spending our money on something others have endorsed without bias.
We look at reviews to determine whether or not we’re interested in reading a book or watching a movie.
And when a friend tells us about a new restaurant or shop they visited, we listen to their experience to decide if we want to try it too.
Testimonies matter.
We talked about the Apostle Paul a couple of days ago and how Governor Felix kept him imprisoned for two years while asking questions about Jesus and Paul’s faith.
Today, let’s look at Acts 26.
Paul was still imprisoned, but this time, he was brought before King Agrippa to present his defense.
Paul told the story of how he became a Christian.
Beginning in verse 2, and with the exception of two brief interruptions, Paul talked all the way through verse 29.
(Please read it.)
Paul shared of his childhood and the years he spent fighting against the truth of Jesus.
He described his experience on the road to Damascus, and how Jesus changed him.
He shared his testimony.
And in verse 29, he said, “I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”
Friends, we are a part of that audience.
We are 2000 years removed from this particular moment in history and yet, the testimony of Paul and his love for Jesus continues to impact our lives.
So if you think your testimony doesn’t have power, think again.
Okay, I know what you’re thinking.
Comparing Paul’s testimony with ours is like trying to compare ours to a Billy Graham or Charles Stanley.
I get it.
These are spiritual leaders known around the world.
You may not have the same level of social influence, but don’t think for a moment that God can’t use your testimony in a powerful way.
Next month, I have an article coming out in one of the magazines I write for (Forsyth Family).
The article is about spiritual legacy and I wrote about two women named Phoebe and Dorcas.
Both women have only passing mentions in Scripture, but both stories have stood the test of time and from their brief mentions in the Bible, we learn a bit about their faith and testimonies.
Of course, we don’t have the same degree of detail as we do with someone like Paul or Peter, but nonetheless, we have enough to know that these were women who loved Jesus too.
These were average, ordinary women who did what they could to live their faith.
Proof that we don’t have to have a Paul-sized testimony in order to make a difference.
So my question today is this — are you sharing your testimony?
You may not be asked to present it the way Paul did, but we all have opportunities to share our love for Jesus.
1 Peter 3:15 says, “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.”
My testimony is on my website and you’re welcome to read it.
But who visits websites that often, right?
We’re a social media world.
I’ll be honest, once upon a time, I wouldn’t have talked about my faith on Facebook any more than I would talk about politics.
Both subjects were taboo in my mind.
But it finally clicked one day.
So many could care less how their political opinions are perceived on social media, so why on earth should I worry about offending someone with my faith?
And so I don’t worry about it anymore.
I still won’t talk about politics on Facebook, but there isn’t any doubt about Who I believe in.
And a side note (or as my husband calls it, a scenic route)…
I no longer defriend people on Facebook.
The Holy Spirit put that one on my heart. If someone posts something I’m offended by, I might unfollow them, but I feel strongly that I can’t disconnect anymore because I may post something about Jesus that someone needs to see.
I’m not saying that’s what you should do—that’s my personal conviction and a part of my faith journey.
I figure if someone doesn’t like what I post, they have the choice to stay connected, unfollow, or defriend me.
That’s their decision, but I will continue to use social media to share my testimony and faith in Jesus.
Today, as you pray, thank God for the power of lasting testimonies.
Thank Him for the stories left behind that we can learn from even thousands of years later.
And thank Him for the testimonies today that influence our belief and embolden us to be stronger in our faith.
Ask the Holy Spirit to give you opportunities to share your own testimony freely and without hesitation, knowing that through you and your story, He can change lives.
