Live Like Paul

There’s a page on my blog that specifically highlights testimonies. This page is called A Dose of Hope and as a whole, it is definitely my favorite part of doing this blog. Sure, I like writing and all, and I like sharing some biblical truth with everyone, but sharing YOUR STORIES has been by far the most fulfilling part of the whole thing.

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Sharing your story is hard, I get it. It can be uncomfortable, it can be scary, intimidating, and even shameful. I know there are parts of my own story that I will share with ease but then there’s others where I’m just like… I am so darn embarrassed by that I kinda just wanna leave it out. Um, What? Let me just ask you this. Have you ever considered the things that happened to you “pre-Jesus” may be the EXACT story someone else needs to hear so they can fully feel the weight of salvation? I mean, If I was not some broken, jacked up young girl, desperate for love, I would not have been able to fully feel the weight of God’s love for me.

What I’m trying to say here, is that by “leaving out the good stuff” of your story you are essentially robbing someone of their salvation. Your testimony is your #1 most powerful tool for saving lost souls. Maybe no one has told you this, and I certainly am not about to force you into sharing anything. But I am going to encourage you. And I am going to show you where God says that this is your duty as a Christian to share.

Your testimony is your #1 most powerful tool for saving lost souls!Click To Tweet

Let’s start by giving you some backstory on this really cool guy, named Paul. Paul was one of Jesus’s biggest haters. We’ve all got ‘em right? Well Jesus had quite a few, but Paul was one of the worst. What’s amazing is that through divine intervention, Paul came to know Jesus, believe in Him, and became His greatest ambassador. Paul decided that Jesus was worth living for, and even more worth dying for. He went across the globe teaching the Gospel (The Good News of Jesus, Lord, Resurrected from the Grave) You can read Paul’s testimony in the book of Acts, but here is some from Chapter 22 so you get an idea:

As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one speaking to me. And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.

This was the moment for Paul (Whom God renamed, but was previously called Saul) that changed everything. I had a similar moment. One that is indescribable to the people around you. One where you see the light, or hear a voice, or even a push toward the cross. We all have this moment of Salvation. For some of us, it’s the moment we publicly declared our hearts to the world through baptism. For some, it was just a moment of realization or clarity. Salvation looks different for each of us because each of us are called for a different purpose. The Lord made us unique like that, which is yet another reason He is so great. But don’t let me get off topic. We’re still talking about sharing your stories here.

“To live is Christ, to die is gain” Philippians 1:21Click To Tweet

Paul went on to advocate on the Lord’s behalf and share the Good News with all the lands. Because of this he endured persecution, beatings, floggings, stonings, and eventually death but one of my favorite verses in the Bible is a quote from Paul which is “To live is Christ, to die is gain” Philippians 1:21. What Paul is saying there is that no amount of persecution that we could ever receive here on earth that can take away the glories that God has in store for us in Heaven. So to live means to carry out the will of the Lord, and to die is to gain the wonders of Heaven.

Nothing stood in the way of Paul going out and proclaiming JESUS IS LORD to every soul he encountered. It didn’t matter if they said they knew Jesus, hated Jesus, didn’t believe in Jesus, whatever. It didn’t matter that they practiced other religions or worshiped pagan gods. It didn’t matter if they imprisoned him, brutally tortured him, or even almost killed him. Jesus was worth everything Paul endured on this side of eternity. And He is worth everything YOU will endure too. So whatever fears, apprehension, anxiety, and shame you feel about sharing your testimony is a lie from the enemy meant to silence you and keeping you from reaching the lost.

To not share the gospel is robbing someone of their rightful place in Heaven.Click To Tweet

Matthew 28:19 says “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. We are called for this. To not share the gospel is robbing someone of their rightful place in Heaven. It’s selfish and it’s heartbreaking. To not share your testimony for their benefit is pride on your behalf. You are not too good to not share your testimony.

In Mark 15:19 you will read “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” We are called to share with our circle. How tragic would it be if you didn’t share the gospel with your athiest relative just because they “didn’t want to hear it” and then they die the second death while you live forever next to Christ? If you share what the Lord has done for you, this doesn’t have to be the end for them.

Paul urges Timothy in his second letter written to him from a jail cell, “Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God” 2 Timothy 1:8. God wants us to be bold in our faith. Share his name to anyone and everyone we can. That is our call. Evangelism can be such a scary concept for Christians. I mean it has a bad rep. No one likes to be called a bible thumper, or Jesus freak. But I assure you, it is WORTH IT for God.

Be Bold. Be Like Paul.

If this has inspired you to share your story, be it publicly or anonymously, I would love to hear from you! Please email me at caylee@coffeetalk.online!

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