May 22, 2023

““Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.”

-Luke 8:39

I haven’t met a biker that doesn’t love to talk, to share stories from the road.  I think it is in our DNA.  My wife has refused to go into stores with me because she knows I may see someone I know and end up talking to them.  Just this morning, I was walking to church, to get things set up for our morning service, and the guy in the camper across from us came out to meet me, because he saw me pull in on my motorcycle the night before.  Keep in mind, I was going to church early to set all of the equipment up and get the technology sorted out.  Well, I ended up talking to Jim (easy name to remember) for almost 45 minutes.  We had never met prior to this moment, but we talked the entire time about motorcycles then food, which makes sense because every biker knows where the best places are to eat, but the reigning kings of that knowledge are my friends Jonathan and Porkchop.   

No, Porkchop is not in the witness protection program, it’s just what we call him! Jim and I shared stories, we laughed, and then we parted ways.  The stories did not really impact either of us in a meaningful way, but we did share a bond.  This made me think of another story that I heard the day before, a testimony delivered by a new friend and a brother in Christ.  Again, this was the first time I met this individual, and he was joining us on a benefit ride.  At one of our stops, he shared his testimony.  I won’t go into the details,  because his story  is for him to share, but it was powerful and moving. His testimony reveals how Christ patiently waited for him and how he was by him through the trials and tribulations of his life.  Even greater still, how he is now being used for the glory of God’s kingdom as a youth pastor in his home church.  His testimony can and will reach others for Christ and that is the point of today’s devotion.  Our testimony is a deep and meaningful story that reveals to others the grace and glory of our Father.  Each of our stories are different and they will reach others in a way we may never imagine.  

Every single one of us has a past that we may, at some point have found shame in, but guess what?  There are others who have dealt with the same sin and the same shame, we are not unique in our sins, but when we lay them at the foot of the cross, we are transformed by grace through faith and a new story begins.  But that new story has a prologue, there was something there before that has been radically altered and we can share that with others to show them just how powerful God truly is and how he can change the life of anyone, no one is too far gone to receive His grace, mercy, love, and salvation.

These words from the book of Titus start out with just that, our sinful nature, but the way these verses end are profound.

“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

-Titus 3:3-7

The most wretched sinner can be saved, no one is beyond salvation.  This is just another reason why our very own testimonies are so important to fulfilling the Great Commission.  Some people have preconceived ideas about Christianity, or some people have never heard of Jesus Christ.  When we share what He has done for us, we open the door to that Gospel conversation that can lead to salvation.  When we share our testimony, we live out these words found in the 66th Psalm.

“Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.”

-Psalm 66:16

Share your testimony, reveal the awesome manner in which Christ forever changed your life.  When you do this, Christ promises to acknowledge you to the Father.  He promises us this in his own words:

“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.”

-Matthew 10:32

The story of how Christ forever changed your life could be the very story someone needs to hear, so that they too can experience salvation.