“For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard.” Acts 22:15
According to the History Channel,“a prolific hit man, Salvatore ‘Sammy the Bull’ Gravano rose through the ranks of both the Colombo and Gambino crime families in the 1960s and 1970s. Promoted to underboss in the late 1980s by the infamous Gambino kingpin John Gotti, Gravano was arrested alongside his boss during a raid on the Ravenite Social Club, their hangout in New York City’s Little Italy neighborhood. The next year he cut a deal with the government and testified in court against Gotti in exchange for a reduced sentence, becoming the man responsible for Teflon Don’s demise.” Gravano’s inside knowledge made him such a powerful witness for the state.
Similarly, the Apostle Paul had been an “insider.” It was his own personal testimony of how he had once been on the side of those who opposed and even persecuted “The Way” (what outsiders called the early Church) that made him so credible.
It’s great to share what God has done in the lives of others, but what’s even more powerful is when we testify from our own personal story. It’s hard to refute a personal testimony of what God has done in your life, where He’s brought you from and how He gives you joy, hope and peace.
Your personal story makes you a powerful witness for the Kingdom of God and it’s the story others need to hear. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to set us up with opportunities to be a witness for Him, and as we follow His lead, our witness will make a world of difference.