Are you one of those people who do a lot of research when they want to buy a product? If you are shopping online, it is crucial to read reviews of the item you are looking to purchase. These other consumers are sharing their experiences which can persuade you to buy, or not buy, an item. Personal experiences are a wonderful way to get information about anything.
Have you ever wanted to see a movie, but not really sure if it's worth buying the ticket, the popcorn, the drink, the snacks... so you ask your friends if they have seen it, and what they thought? Movie reviews are another "testimonial" that you can read to gain insight.
Infomericals are notorious for having "testimonials" for sharing positive experiences and rave reviews for whatever new item they are touting. Some people are so moved by these lavish claims that they buy the merchandise sight unseen and hope for the same results!
The Bible encourages the believer to share their experiences as well. We are told to testify of God's goodness and mercy. I am going to give you my top seven reasons you should testify!
1. Never stop talking about the goodness of God. Psalm 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Always watch for ways the enemy will try to stop you. Fear, doubt, anxiety, worry, feelings of inferiority are all tools of the enemy to stop you from sharing the good things God has been doing in your life. Do not let anything stop you from telling others what God has done for you!
2. Don't wait for an opportunity "someday" or "one day" to share how you have been blessed. Don't expect to go abroad and do great things for God as the only means to be His witness. Share your testimony in your own community; right where you are now, even if it's hard. It could not have been easy for the woman at the well to have shared her testimony but after she had an experience with the Master she wanted to share it with everyone! John 4:28-29 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, "Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?"
3. God gives you the power through the Holy Ghost to testify. Look for the people no one else is reaching. Who are the broken, the hurting, the desperate? Find the people who really need to experience Jesus' love and saving power. We have the ability to do this through the power of the Holy Ghost. Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
4. It should be a joyful thing to praise the LORD. It should be a happy time of sharing the goodness of God with fellow Christians. Let's tell saints and sinners alike of all the ways we have been blessed, helped, saved, delivered, set free, redeemed, and renewed because of our wonderful God. He is worthy to be praised and we should be happy to brag on Him and His great deeds. Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
5. We get a testimony to share with others after we have gone through a trial. James 1:3-4 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Some things we go through will be hard, but God will be glorified when we tell others how we overcame. This can can increase the faith of others observing us, and in turn can strengthen our own spirit.
6. The Bible teaches us how we ought to share our faith with others. Mark 5:19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, "Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the LORD hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee." This is Jesus' response when He had healed a man from demon possession. The man was so happy to be restored that he was willing to follow Jesus anywhere to proclaim what He had done. Jesus didn't let him do that. Jesus had another plan. The man was to go back home and tell his friends and those who knew him and knew what he had been like before he had been restored to health. He was to go back and tell them how Jesus had compassion for him and what all he had done. Jesus did a miracle for this man who had been living in the cemetery, among the dead, and clothes torn to shreds. He was a mess! Jesus completely transformed that man's life and he was never the same again! That was worth sharing and going back home to tell. He had a mission!
7. The importance of testifying about the goodness of God is so we can defeat the devil. Revelation 12:10-11 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now is come salvation, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death." We are told in this passage of scripture that the devil accuses us day and night before God. He is constantly running to God and telling on us for any bad thing we do, say, or think. He is trying to trap us so that God will be angry with us and cast us away, but we are born again believers so God will never do that! We apply the blood of Jesus to our lives and we live in the shadow of the cross. We proudly proclaim how God healed us, saved us, met our needs, made a way where there was none, provided the money for the bills we had to pay, put food on the table, clothed us, gave us a clear mind. There is no shortage of ways to thank Him. We must tell others. We have a duty to God to tell those who are discouraged and hurting that there is hope and Jesus is the way!
We were given the great Commission to tell others about the Lord. The final scripture for today's devotional is found in the book of Matthew. These are the words of Jesus!
Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
~Bridgett Owens
