A testimony of Joy
Lt. Col. Joy Steadman-Allen offers some thoughts on testimony.
Lt. Col. Joy Steadman-Allen
Joy writes:
I expect you share with me the strength and power that we can enjoy through listening to the testimonies of fellow Christians – and in giving our own. St Paul’s testimony is written to Titus (Chap 3 ;3-7) where he says what Christ has done in his own life and can do for the worst sinner. I think ‘Hey this can be my testimony’ -I sinned until God’s Holy Spirit invaded me and I experienced His peace. Not because I earned or deserved it but because it is a gift of God’s grace.
Three vital words are in the letter to Titus: God’s loving kindness, His mercy and His grace.
Love expresses the deep and constant love and interest of the Perfect Being towards entirely unworthy people. Mercy; the dictionary says, is an act of pardon, forgiveness, something to be thankful for. And ‘grace’ – the divine regenerating and invigorating influence – a spiritual favour or excellence granted through the merits of Christ. What a testimony, eh? St Paul now says, in Ephesians 2, talking about the desires of body and mind: We are all by nature rebellious children. But God, who is rich in mercy (forgiving), out of the great love with which he loved us (even when we were dead through our sins) made us alive together with Christ ( by grace you have been saved) and raised us up with Him. Now how is that for a testimony? Thank God it is mine – and yours?
I want to tell you what the Lord has done,
He lifted me from the miry clay,
Oh, what a happy day!
I want to tell you what the Lord can do:
He can take your life as he did mine
And make it anew.