What is a testimony? It is defined as a declaration usually made verbally by someone who has physically witnessed something. It is firsthand evidence of what has happened. In a court of law, if two people give testimony to the same thing under oath, it is taken as fact. In the Christian world, it is to be verbal, but our words must be backed up by our actions. Living in a way to support what you say gives validity to your words. If your words and actions don’t match you are a hypocrite and it’s worse for the gospel than if you had never opened your mouth. We are to be a testimony for Jesus. Our words and lifestyle are to reflect who He is and what He has done for us and through us. One of the greatest ways for the world to see Jesus in us is through our thanksgiving.
The Apostles were of great testimony to who Jesus Christ is and what He had done for them. In Acts 4:33, they gave a witness with great power about the resurrection of Jesus. The witness and sharing of what they had seen gave validity to the Christian faith. Jesus had done what He said He would do! It showed that He had been sent from God and that He was the manifestation of God in the flesh. As a result of their public testimony, multitudes became believers of Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:33 “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”
In John chapter 11, Jesus had been summoned by Lazarus’s sisters to the bedside of their brother. He was at death’s door. Jesus delayed, on purpose, and Lazarus was in the grave by the time He got there. When He arrived Lazarus’s sisters were distraught. They felt in their soul that if Jesus had been there Lazarus would still be alive. Jesus had another plan!
John 11:4 “When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.”
Jesus goes to the tomb and in verse 41, He thanks His Father that He heard Him. He did not thank His Father publicly because He needed to because Jesus and the Father are one, but He speaks of this as an answer to prayer from the Father. Note that the miracle had not yet occurred, but He thanked the Father in confidence that it was answered. In verse 42 He explains that He said it for a testimony in front of the people. It was for their benefit so that they would believe that He was who He said He was. That they would know that the answer was from the Father. He wanted the glory for the miracle to go to the Father, not Himself. Jesus was always pointing to the Father and honoring Him.
John 11:41-42 “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou heard me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
We are to be a thankful people as a testimony to others. Jesus set that example for us, and we are to pattern our lives after Him. As a Christian, I have more to thankful for than anyone. If the only thing God ever did for me was to forgive me of my sins and grant me an eternal home with Him, that alone would be worthy of a thankful heart every moment of my life. I wonder if more people would accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior if we were in continual praise for our eternal promise. When we grumble and complain about our situations, constantly wish things were different, and worry more about fulfilling our selfish desires than the salvation of others, we are saying our God is not enough. We are being a poor testimony as to who He is. A prayer of thanksgiving should be on our lips every day, and our gratitude should be known by all around us. How else is a lost world going to know what a great God we have if we don’t tell them? A spirit of thankfulness will change how we react to others, it will change our attitude toward God, and it will promote harmony and peace among His people and all who watch.
Every day God’s mercies are bestowed on us. This Thanksgiving, and every day, be a testimony to the world of the goodness of our God! He is worthy!
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