February 3
Building Bridges
"But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!" - John 9:25
Very few Christians are great theologians, and none of us have every verse of the Bible memorized - but we all have a testimony.  We all have the story of how Christ came into our lives.  We may not be experts, but like the blind man whom Jesus healed, we can all say, "But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!" (John 9:25).  Every Christian can say, "Here is what Jesus did for me."  And you know what?  Your testimony is a great place to start.
The Apostle Paul, who was a great intellectual and a brilliant orator, would often begin with his testimony when presenting the message of the gospel.  Why would Paul start with his testimony?  It built common ground between him and the people to whom he was preaching. 
When you share the story of how you came to Christ, you are in a sense saying, "I have been where you are.  And let me tell you about the way I used to think, the way I used to be - the way that my life was.  Now let me tell you about what Christ has done for me."  A testimony helps a person to understand that you weren't born a Christian.  It helps them to see that there is a bridge for them, a way for them to come to Christ.  Testimonies prove that anyone can change through the transforming power of Jesus Christ.
Copyright (c) 2004 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright (c) 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.