We All Have a Testimony - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul.
Psalm 66:16

We All Have a Testimony
There was a time when it was common for Christians to publicly declare what God had done for them, to "share their testimony." Today it seems we are more energized to declare our political views or how our favorite sports team is faring. Perhaps it is time to get back to that older habit of declaring "what He has done for my soul."

Some will protest that public testimonies can devolve into speaking too much of our past, of glorying in our sin, or speaking too much of "self." This indeed can happen, but because the flesh abuses a practice does not mean we should cease from engaging in it; rather, let's get it right!

Another objection is that those of us who were brought up in Christian homes, and were converted as children, what shall we say? In fact some of us may not even remember when we came to Christ. How can we give a testimony? Besides, it would be boring to listen to a story about childhood conversion.

The apostle Paul had a powerful testimony, and he was not shy in declaring it on several occasions (see Acts 22:3-15; 26:2-16). He could point to the place and time of his conversion. But of Timothy, it is said, "from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation" (2 Tim. 3:15). Perhaps Timothy did not know the "day or the hour" of his conversion, but he could say with Paul, "I know whom I have believed" (2 Tim. 1:12), for ultimately it is not when we believed but in whom we have believed that is important.

Timothy's conversion was not as dramatic as Paul's but just as real. No matter the circumstances, we all have a testimony; if you have it, share it. "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so" (Ps. 107:2). Amen.

Brian Reynolds