I’ve only had to testify in court one time, but as you might imagine, it was not a fun experience. “Do you promise to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?” Those words echoed from the judge’s lips and reverberated throughout the courtroom. I was giving testimony, and everyone in the courtroom wanted to have confidence that what I was going to say would be true.
While a courtroom may be the most notable place people testify, it’s not the only place testimony happens. The Apostle John reminds us that testimony is part of our normal Christian life. Listen to what he wrote to the churches, “ For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth.” John claimed that other believers came and testified that Gaius was walking in the truth. They told on him! They reported that he was fervently living out his faith.
In this short verse, John draws out a few things that are important. First, walking in the truth is noteworthy. These believers were so impressed with the faith Gaius lived by that they wanted John to know about it. Secondly, it’s possible to testify about someone else’s faith. I love that because these believers were not tooting their own horn, they were reporting on someone else’s faithfulness. Finally, hearing a testimony of faith has the ability to bring great joy to the hearers. John was overwhelmed with excitement when he heard about the way Gaius was living out his faith.
As we seek to embody what John wrote about, let’s look for ways to brag about someone else’s faith. Be on the lookout for people who are passionately walking with Jesus and let others know about it. Then, as you testify about the faith of others and rejoice with them, strive with Jesus’ power to walk in the same manner. Let’s live as a walking testimony to the truth.
Pastor Ryan Paulson