What Does Your Testimony Look Like?

While I have been mostly home during the past year, my roomie and I got used to listening to a number of church services on Sundays. A few weeks ago the first three sermons we listened to that Sunday had varying themes of “your testimony.” One of them in particular had the theme of, “What will your testimony look like when you are no longer alive and living it?” (‘It’ being your testimony.)

 I looked up the definition of testimony in the good ole Merriam-Webster Webster Online Dictionary. The three definitions that caught my attention were: 1) :an outward sign  2) :an open acknowledgment  3) :a public profession of religious experience.  If you think about it, our testimony for Christ should contain all of these elements.  

The book of 1 Thessalonians is the first letter Paul the Apostle wrote to the church at Thessalonica. Paul, with Silas and Timothy, had established this church earlier on one of their missionary journeys.  In being established as a church, they embraced a public profession of their faith (a religious experience.)    

In Chapter 3, verses 5-7, Paul shared with the church there that he had sincerely desired to find out how they were doing and how things were going, so he sent Timothy to visit them. He wanted to make sure they were staying strong. He said if they had not been doing well, he (and the others) would feel like everything they had done was in vain. 

When Timothy returned from Thessalonica, he told Paul that the church was doing well. They seemed to have the sign of an open acknowledgment because of a good testimony of strong faith. In addition to strong faith, they showed an outward sign by their acts of charity. Yes, their testimony was strong. They told Timothy that they missed Paul and they could not wait to see him again. Even though Paul and his companions were going through difficult times, they felt comforted by the testimony that the church there displayed. 

The challenge for us in this passage could be to live in a way that presents our lives as a testimony for Christ, while we actively work to encourage others. We should strive to leave a living testimony that will remain when we are no longer alive and living it. Paul’s testimony had encouraged the church at Thessalonica as he helped them grow. Then their testimony after he left them encouraged Paul.

In addition, we need to strive to be better at mentoring others, Check in with them, encourage them and lift them up when needed. See how they are doing with life in general and, more importantly, see how they are doing in their spiritual walk. Help strengthen them as they grow spiritually. We can all use mentoring and encouragement, no matter if we are the one being encouraged or the one giving it.

How can this passage strengthen my faith? We can know that Paul went through the same things that we do. He encouraged others and he was also encouraged by others. With his testimony he established the church there. He wrote them letters. These letters were to specific to that church, but the message can apply to most all churches. So, in a way, it was like he was checking in on us and encouraging us.

First, Paul modeled a strong testimony. He really lived it out. Then he modeled for us how to mentor others, which will leave a lasting testimony long after we are no longer here to live it.

Lord, thank You for sending people to me that helped me find my way to You—not only those that helped me find you, but also those that helped me grown spiritually and learn how to grow in grace…. those that left a lasting testimony in my life. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to reach out to others in Your name. Please give me a living, lasting testimony that will honor You long after I am gone. Thank you for the strength You give me through others ministering to me in Your name. 

~~~~~~~~

“5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. 6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: 7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:” 1 Thessalonians 3:6 (KJV)

“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” 1 John 5:11 (NKJV)

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14 (NKJV”

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” Revelation 12:11 (NKJV)

————————

What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe?  Do you have a testimony that will remain even after you are gone? Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him?  You can know Him.  Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity.  You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.  

Here is an excellent website that can give you additional information about making your decision for Jesus Christ! PeaceWithGod.net