Testimony for Christ

For some of us it is difficult to share our faith in Christ or share the gospel message with those who do not know Him. There are many approaches that have been designed over the years such as Evangelism Explosion and the Four Spiritual Laws. These have been designed so that those of us who struggle sharing the gospel can have a system to work from. I have no problem with this if it helps people share their faith. I have seen quite a few people come to faith using the Evangelism Explosion approach. But for many it is still a struggle, I myself included, even though I've had the Evangelism Explosion training.

In the Gospel of Mark chapter 5 we have the account of Jesus crossing the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. (Please read Mark 5: 1-20) There he meets a demon possessed man. In fact even the demon said his name was Legion because there were many. The man was so tormented by these demons that even though he was bound with chains he would pull them apart and no one could tame him. Jesus calls the demons out of him, restores him and sends the demons into a large herd of swine. They run headlong over a cliff upsetting those people who fed them. The story was told in the city and many came out to see the man who had been healed and there he was "sitting and clothed and in his right mind." The people were upset with Jesus and wanted Him to depart. The demon possessed man begged Him to let him go along with Him. Mark 5: 19 says "However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion you." He departs and began to proclaim all that Jesus had done for him and all the people were amazed.

What a testimony! Now we do not know if this man came to faith in Christ but we do know this newly healed man didn't know anything about sharing the gospel or a system of how to do so. Jesus told him to go tell his friends what the Lord had done for him. When we go about our day and routine there may be opportunities for us to tell others what Christ has done for us. It could be in the form of how we came to faith in Him or a testimony of a particular answer to prayer or work of grace the Lord has done in our lives. Think of those things the Lord has done for you. Thank Him for them and let that refresh your spirit of His grace in your life. Then take every opportunity to tell others of God's grace.

Pray for courage and boldness to share the message with others of Christ's death, resurrection and forgiveness of sin. But in the meantime let us use every opportunity we can to heed Jesus' words "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you."

Some may be amazed and it just might make them thirsty enough to ask more about the Christ in your life.