Psalm 10-12 Acts 19:1-20

“Many of the believers began to confess openly and tell all the evil things they had done.” (Acts 19:18 NCV)

After Paul’s stay in Corinth, he moved on to Ephesus for about two years. As Paul shared the gospel, and as God worked miracles through Paul, the message of the Gospel and the reputation of the Jesus that Paul preached spread. Miraculous things started happening and, in some cases, when people used Jesus’s name as a name drop, bad things happened to those who used His name without knowing Him. As the power of God moved among the people in Ephesus, people began to testify about how God had brought them out of an evil past. I believe that as they testified about their life before Christ, others heard their own story and realized there was hope in Jesus. The result was that the word of God spread in a powerful way.

Our testimony is our story. How did God bring you to the point where you are today? Perhaps you’re reading this, but you’ve never had a personal relationship with Jesus. That’s fine. The first thing I’m going to tell you is that God loves you and whatever you’re going through, whatever you may have done in the past, He offers you the opportunity to have fellowship with Him and forgiveness of sins through Jesus. I experienced that love and forgiveness first when I was eighteen years old. I was most likely on the road to becoming an alcoholic when God showed me His love and forgiveness. That may be why I’m such a strong proponent of not drinking alcohol. That may not be your issue. I can tell you that in the many years since I experienced God’s grace and forgiveness for the first time, He’s shown me even more grace. There are no “spectacular” sins in my past, especially since I came to Christ, but when I’ve done wrong, He’s forgiven me and led me to His way of living. I’ve had the opportunity to share the Gospel with friends, family, and strangers on three continents, and, I’ve had the privilege of being married to a godly woman who enjoys working with me to share God’s love and any other resources He’s given us with people who need to hear about His grace. What’s your story? How did you come to experience God’s grace and forgiveness? How has He led you since? Are you ready to tell others about your experiences with God? That’s the calling of every Christian. Make your confession about His grace. Share your testimony of what God has done with others. Start now. Share that in the comments even!

Lord, You have worked in my life in some amazing ways. Let me be ready to share with those who need encouragement in their faith and those who need to experience Your grace. Thank You for such and amazing walk through this life because of Your grace.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved