As much as ideas change people, where advertising, mass marketing, and communication have been most successful, people change people, and that is really the strongest influencing force.
This week, we’ve our WoW! Conference for women from 14 nations with over 88 churches. We chose the theme ‘Women of Witness’ because the power of personality is often greater than the idea itself.
In its latest online advertising campaign, Shopee engaged mega movie star Jackie Chan as its brand ambassador, believing the power of a personality will draw in the crowds. These star personalities have short-lived influence as they’ll need another big name for the next big draw. This pressures it to keep pushing for something or someone novel to pique interest.
For Christians, it isn’t a system, a building, an idea or even ethical practices that engage us. There’s only One that stands out for all time – Christianity is found in the Person of Jesus Christ and no one in history can match Him!
1 Corinthians 2:9 says, ‘But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man, The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”’
Our testimony and witness is to proclaim His unfailing love, and our story has the power to influence and change lives. It has the power to bring healing and build the community.
There’s no comparison that you’re not good enough when building a community. Everyone plays a part when we allow ourselves to open up and choose to connect and be vulnerable. We thrive when we relate to – and connect with – another, and this only reveals how different we are from one another.
Our confession is also our testimony – it’s the story of what nearly killed us until we came to Jesus, and He forgave, healed, and restored us. When we hear someone’s story, we realise we’re not that different.
It’s shame that causes us to withdraw and isolate, and the antidote to shame is connection. Sharing our testimony not only brings healing to ourselves, but can often be an instrument of courage and healing for someone else despite the fear of criticism or judgment.
What we have to overcome are the parts of ourselves that we feel most guilty and shameful about. But when we know that another person has witnessed our suffering and sins, and yet has chosen to accept, love, and forgive us, this heals our emotional wounds.
Faith plays a key part for boldness in sharing our testimony. If you believe God is forgiving, loving, and merciful, and that He desires to paint and create a most beautiful portrait of your life, it’ll establish resilience and meaning through your struggles.
The glories of heaven cannot be conceived in our imaginations, and it’s only by the Holy Spirit Who reveals heaven to us through the Scriptures. Deuteronomy 29:29 discloses that ‘The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.’ This is a promise which is not only for us, but we need to proclaim it for our children as well.
Through the generations, we may have concluded that love is the answer for meaning in life, for everything that exists. Through the highs and lows of life, can love sustain love? If you’ve crossed the final frontiers of love, you’ll have found it wanting as well.
Jesus coming to us is the ultimate reminder of God’s lavish love for man. Why would anyone humbly endure humiliation, rejection, betrayal and unbearable pain, unless driven by a supernatural love?
The power of your testimony is real! When you’ve received forgiveness from Jesus and begin to love and forgive yourself and others, God starts to work in your life and you find purpose and meaning to the pain, and even trauma you may have been through.
When one of the religious scribes perceived what Jesus was saying, he asked Him concerning The Great Commandment. Jesus replied in Mark 12:29-31 saying, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.’”
Simply sharing with another about your true God and Redeemer Jesus Christ, and the influence He has on your life makes you His witness. The psalmist says, “My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and of Your salvation all day long” Psalm 71:15 (NASU), and “I will declare what He has done for my soul.” Psalm 66:16
