I will tell the wondrous story
In that wonderful day you will say, “Thank the Lord! Praise his name! Tell the world about his wondrous love. How mighty he is!”
Isaiah 12:4 (TLB)
When the writer of Hebrews tells us not to neglect the assembling of ourselves together the reason he gives is so that we can encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25 NIV). One of the most encouraging aspects of being part of a church family is when someone gives a testimony of how God has brought them to faith or has been working in their life. The sharing of what God has done can spur others on in their Christian walk (v.24).
Giving a testimony about how great God is and about his mighty works is rooted in Old Testament Scripture and embedded in Jewish tradition. King David wrote Psalm 40 just after he was miraculously saved by God. He thanked God for salvation in the beginning of the psalm and asked for further divine protection, in the future, at the end of the psalm. In the middle of the psalm, however, David also wrote, ‘I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord…I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly.’ (vv.9-10).
David confirmed that he had made known God’s miracles in public, and this is something that we can all learn from. When God gives us the gift of a miracle, and if we are a Christian, we all have received the miracle of salvation, we must give him the gift of sharing our experiences. In this way we connect people with the power of God and inspire faith in him.
No other person on earth knows your story better than you do. Sharing your testimony with others can be a powerful and important way to thank God for all he has done. Nobody can give your testimony like you. Unless you give a testimony about how God has worked, and is working, in your life, your story will never be authentically told. By sharing your story, you’re expressing gratitude to God. You’re not only letting others know about what God is doing in your life, but you’re also being a model for a life of thanksgiving.
So, let’s encourage one another by sharing our wondrous story:
…of the Christ who died for me…
I was lost, but Jesus found me…
I was bruised, but Jesus healed me…
His presence still is with me;
By His guiding hand I’m led… 1
Prayer
Father, it is our duty and our privilege to proclaim your mighty name and tell others of your great love, through Jesus. May our praise of you always be on our lips, in Jesus’s name, Amen.
Study by Barry Robinson
1 Francis H. Rowley, I Will Sing the Wondrous Story, 1886.
Barry Robinson is a minister in Grace Communion International and Regional Pastor for Southern England.
Local congregation:
Grace Communion International Camberwell
The Salvation Army Hall
105 Lomond Grove
Camberwell
London SE5 7HN
Local congregational contact:
Barry Robinson
Email: camberwell@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church