GO AND TELL
Bernadette Keene
Today’s Scripture: “And all the people saw him walking and praising God and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” Acts 3:9-10, ESV
Theme: You only get to see the miracle when you step out of your comfort zone.
THE ENCOUNTER
In today’s Scripture, we read about the miraculous healing of a man who had been lame since birth. This man had spent the entirety of his life sitting in front of the temple gate asking for alms and in an instant was completely healed with an opportunity for a new life. There are numerous accounts in the Bible of miraculous healings and changed lives after encountering Jesus or His disciples. Some examples are the leper that Jesus touched and made clean (Matthew 8:1-4), the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), the healing of Saul’s blindness (Acts 9:17-18), and the woman with an issue of blood (Mark 5:24-34). These are just a few examples, and while the details of each account are different, the results are the same – a changed life that motivated each person to tell others about what they experienced.
TALK ABOUT IT
Sharing our testimonies with people is a vital aspect of the Christian life. The story of the woman with an issue of blood (Matthew 5:27) says that she sought Jesus because she “had heard about him.” People came from far and wide to meet Jesus because they heard other people talking about Him. It may seem intimidating to share your faith with others, but your testimony could be exactly what someone else needs. It does not have to be in front of a large crowd or a group of people at an event. Sharing your life with just one person at the right moment is a good place to start. God often brings people into our lives who share similar struggles. An encouraging word from us about how Jesus helped us through could be what prompts them to seek Him. Our testimony is not about us; it is about Jesus and how He loves us through our messy lives.
Make It Personal: I have been known to be a quitter. It is a spiritual battle I have struggled against all my life. When life gets hard, I shut down, change course, or walk away. I am sure it is a trauma response, but God has been calling me away from that mindset and challenging me to persevere. I have been on a healing journey the last three years, and God has stretched me in uncomfortable ways to heal me and to build my trust in Him and others.
I love the outdoors and enjoy walking and hiking, but in my older age I am a fair-weather outdoor enthusiast! There was a day this past summer that I really wanted to go walking, but the weather forecast was predicting thunderstorms. Peering up into the sky, I saw a few lingering clouds but decided I would take the risk. I got to the trail, parked my car, and took off walking. All the while, I continued glancing up at the ominous black cloud overhead. After I had walked a fair distance, the sky opened up and the rain came down. I stopped and looked back at my car, wanting to quit and run back to safety, but then I heard the Spirit: “Don’t give up, don’t quit. I know this is hard, but if you will follow through, I have something to show you at the end.” So, I started running. Along the path there were groups of trees that sheltered the trail from the rain, so I ran from tree to tree and stopped in each dry place that God provided for me. At first, I kept looking back at my car, unsure, but as I progressed down the trail and my trust in God continued to grow, I found the courage to keep running. When I reached the end of the trail and turned to head back, I noticed the clouds had parted and the sun was peeking through. As I came around a sharp turn in trail I looked up and saw the most beautiful rainbow, and I cried. I stopped and thanked God right there in the middle of the trail. This is my testimony that God keeps His promises. He is trustworthy and will help us through the hard things, and when He does, go tell somebody!
Pray: Father, thank You for loving us though the hard places in life. We all have testimonies of Your love for us and how Your faithfulness carried us through challenging times. Give us the boldness we need to share our stories with others, to reach out and meet needs so that they will seek You and trust You. Amen.
Read: Acts 1:8, 1 John 1:1-4
Weekly Memory Verse: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26, ESV