REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on June 1, 2016. Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Our Personal Testimony”
Galatians 1:13-17
For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.
“When one of my friends becomes a Christian, which happens about every 10 years because I am a sheep about sharing my faith, the experience is euphoric. I see in their eyes the trueness of the story.” (Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality)
Over the years, I’ve come to believe that the most powerful testament believers can offer to the goodness of God and the trustworthiness of His Word is our own personal testimony. Presently, in the children’s ministry at my church, we are reading The Jesus Storybook Bible, a book that walks though the entire Bible (Genesis to Revelation) in narrative form. The premise of the book is that “every [Bible] story whispers his (Jesus’) name.” In other words, through the stories of the lives of ordinary people, we can see who God is and what He’s up to in the world. God is writing a story in each of our lives as well, and those stories reveal to us and to others who He is in particular and powerful ways. The truth of the gospel often comes through louder and clearer in the life of one who believes it than it does in the communication of abstract facts and figures.
When Paul had to make a defense of the legitimacy of the gospel he preached, he did so by telling his story – what God did in his life in revealing the Good News to him and how the Lord led him after that. The late, great Howard Hendricks (beloved professor of biblical exposition and hermeneutics at Dallas Theological Seminary) once said, “In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering.” This is often true because we don’t believe we know enough or understand enough to articulate the truth of God to someone else. While I believe every believer should devote the time and energy required to study and articulate the Scripture well, I am also persuaded that we have another tool in our arsenal – our own personal stories.
God is doing a mighty work in you! Find someone to share it with today.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the story You’re writing in my life. Thank You for the journey that we are on together. Help me to be mindful of the ways You are moving in me. Grant me an opportunity today to share my story so that someone else may come to know more about You through me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Amos 4
Lunch Break Study
For our lunch break this afternoon, let’s spend time in extended meditation on the verses below.
Read 1 Chronicles 16:8-14: Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 9 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. 11 Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. 12 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, 13 you his servants, the descendants of Israel, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob. 14 He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
What are some things God has done in your life recently for which you are thankful. Write your own psalm of praise to the Lord in response to what He has done.
Evening Reflection
Who are the people in your life who could benefit from hearing your story? Pray and ask the Lord to identify specific people. Ask for wisdom and insight on when and how you can share with them. Make plans to do so in the coming weeks. Is there anything that keeps you from sharing with others (fear, discretion, etc.)? Ask God to give you courage and openness to be used by Him in this way.