What would have happened if the woman at the well hadn’t shared her testimony about Jesus with the men in town?
Our testimony (God Story) about Jesus Christ and what He has done in, for and through our life is a powerful tool in leading others to believe in Him. For example, “many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him BECAUSE of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I ever did.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world’” (John 4:39–42).
When I was 33 years old, I was hungering and longing to have a daily personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I often wonder what if Betty Thompson, a Christian educator, hadn’t befriended me, an unbeliever, over 47 years ago? What would have happened if another Christian hadn’t given me the book, Shout It From the Housetops, to read about an authentic Christian who lived out unashamedly his personal relationship with Christ on a daily basis? As I was reading this book, I thought “I wish this story was true. I don’t know any Christians like this.”
In addition, what would have happened if our 9-month-old son’s nurse hadn’t come in the hospital room to administer him his pain medicine and seeing the book in my lap say (without ever knowing what I had just thought), “That book is a true story. It’s an autobiography.” And then boldly share what Jesus had done in, for, and through her life, including healing her son. She even stated, “This is the first time I’ve ever shared like this while on my job.”
Because these Christians didn’t have a fear of man, but boldly and lovingly lifted up Jesus Christ, the Lord drew me unto Him. For you see, four days later when our son was released from the hospital and at home alone, I cried out, “God, if you are real, I want to know You and deliver me from
cigarette addiction.” The peace of God that passes all understanding flooded completely over me. I was radically saved and instantly set free! Jesus became personal to me!
Today, 47 years later, Betty Thompson, the precious Christian who befriended me in 1977, says, “This story brought home to me how important our testimonies are and how the Holy Spirit uses them...as small and simple as they are!” In the book of Matthew, chapter 10, verse 27, Jesus instructs his disciples: “What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, SHOUT FROM THE HOUSETOPS for all to hear!”
Myrna Brogdon
Los Fresnos, TX & Bluffton, IN
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