Today I’m joined by my sweet, funny, and very southern sister in Christ, Carmen Horne of Pursuing Hope Together. Today’s word is one that challenged me most of my life until I began to understand it’s true meaning.
Testimony – (Hebrew) ‘eduwth – testimony, witness, a precept of God, law.
(Greek) martyreō – bear witness, testify, bear record, witness, be a witness, give testimony.
The first time I can remember hearing the word testimony was as a child in a little country church filled to the brim with folks that loved God. I was so young I didn’t realize what “giving your testimony” meant. The Pastor asked everyone who wanted to share to line up; people wrapped around the sanctuary. One by one, each stopped at the pulpit and told what God was doing in their life. Quaking in my boots, I said, “I love the Lord”. I couldn’t have been more than ten. I bore witness that day of Jesus and His saving power.
The word “Testimony” appears one hundred and eleven times in the NASB (New American Standard Bible). We are first introduced to it in Exodus as a witness to who God is and His law:
“When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.”. Exodus 31:18, NASB
The New Testament continues the witness:
“The Son is the radiance and only expression of the glory of [our awesome] God [reflecting God’s [a]Shekinah glory, the Light-being, the brilliant light of the divine], and the exact representation and perfect imprint of His [Father’s] essence, and upholding and maintaining and propelling all things [the entire physical and spiritual universe] by His powerful word [carrying the universe along to its predetermined goal]. When He [Himself and no other] had [by offering Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for sin] accomplished purification from sins and established our freedom from guilt, He sat down [revealing His completed work] at the right hand of the Majesty on high [revealing His Divine authority],” Hebrews 1:3, AMP
“Concerning God’s special revelation of himself to Old Testament Israel, the Ten Commandments are called the Testimony (Exod 31:18); as the revelation of God’s legislation, they testify to his person and work and to his expectations for Israel. The ark and the tabernacle are also occasionally called the ark of the Testimony (Exod 25:22; Num 4:5; Joshua 4:16) and the tabernacle/tent of the Testimony (Exod 38:21; Num 10:11; 2 Chron 24:6). In these instances, testimony more specifically refers to the revelatory self-witness of God to his people. Here, by the ark in the tabernacle, God testifies to his own existence in the act of revealing himself to Moses (Exod 25:22; 33:9-11; Num 7:89) and to future generations (Exod 29:42).
Testimony in the New Testament. The New Testament takes up the Old Testament concept of testimony and greatly expands it in light of God’s special revelation in Jesus Christ. Here again the content of the testimony is certifiable, objective evidence (John 3:11; Acts 1:21-22; 1 John 1:1-4), and for this reason, it is considered true (John 3:33; 5:32-33; 19:35; 21:24; 3 John 12).”
Jesus is the perfect witness of God’s love and His character.
Jesus is the perfect witness of God’s love and His character. @CarmenHorneNow Click To Tweet
“Jesus said to him, “…He who has seen me has seen the Father…”
And, we bear witness to the world, we testify every day of our relationship with Jesus Christ. We are “Jesus with skin on” to everyone we meet. Lord, help us to be able to live in such a way that others can say they have seen Jesus when they have seen us.
Do you have a testimony to share? Comment below and let us celebrate God’s goodness with you.
Carmen Horne serves women by writing, speaking, and life coaching. As a Coach, she walks alongside those who feel discouraged as they pursue hope. She is a contributing writer for Sweet to the Soul Ministries, Life Letter Café, and Women at the Well. She has guest posted for several online websites. Carmen has been published in 100 Secrets to a Happy Marriage, Thomas Nelson Publishers, The Message magazine, and Just Between Us magazine. She is a wife and mom who loves nibbling dark chocolate and sitting on the beach. Visit her at carmenhorne.com.
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(1) www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/testimony.html
Oh, the power of our testimony. Those words are overcoming words. Tickled silly to see you here, Carmen. Thankful, Liz, that you open your pages to others.
Amen! I just love having guests!! They all bring such unique perspectives and wonderful wisdom!
Kristi, I was tickled to be here! Liz is one on my favorite ladies. Thank you stopping by to visit us. Liz is a dear host. Thanks Liz for having me over xo
Girl! The pleasure is all mine! My dream is to get you all around My Messy Desk in real life!! XO
Yes! Thank you for this clear definition and the Scriptures! Testifying today to God’s work building up friendships that glorify Him. So grateful for an unexpected weekend with one (and then two) dear friends, and another one with a best coming up! The Lord is just filling my heart and amazing me with evidence of His work when we walk alongside others in faith.