Bearing Witness
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings….I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them (2 Timothy 3:10-11).
The benefits of a written record are often heralded by attorneys, psychotherapists, theologians and relatives. Even eye-witness recall can be especially dubious and subject to wide-ranging suggestions. At some point, even the individual offering a self-report of experiences can be questioned for accuracy. Written records can range from sworn statements to casual diaries intended to help guide the evaluation of decisions and to establish courses of action. Prayer journals and diaries can help measure spiritual growth and maturity. Eventually, the written record can potentially outlast the author and, in those cases, the value increases exponentially and the ultimate value is immeasurable.
In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he offers a testimony of his enduring faith and the constant mercy of God to rescue him from all persecutions and sufferings. The words describe scenarios that are almost completely unimaginable. The words seem to characterize a descent of experiences from pleasures to horrors. The words bear witness not only to the experiences, but most importantly to the faith that Paul holds in the deliverance that God has afforded.
The details of our journeys of faith are rarely known or recorded. As a result, the miracles of God remain private acts that fail to offer encouragement and instruction to others. As we learn about the paths that others have created or followed, our faith is developed and sometimes strengthened. What have been the “wrestling moments” when you, like Jacob, held on to a formidable adversary until you received an essential or desired blessing (see Genesis 32:26)? If you are unable to recall these moments, you are not able to share these moments. If you are unable to share these moments, you deny others the benefit of learning from your witness.
The song “Getting to Know You” from the musical “The King and I” by Rodgers and Hammerstein offers insightful lyrics that explain the connection between the student and the teacher. We, in fact, learn as we teach.
“It’s….a true and honest thought That if you become a teacher By your pupils you'll be taught.”
In the Great Commission, Jesus says “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). These powerful words challenge us to consider “how do we teach someone to obey?” Obedience implies compliance. Compliance connotes coercion. Coercion breeds resistance. Resistance leads to rejection. Rejection causes rebellion. Rebellion often leads to death.
Jesus invites us to follow Him. Following means traveling a way that has already been traveled. Following requires trust. Trust means having faith. Our strength, joy and peace comes from the confidence that we are following the Savior who has delivered so many others and the One who also promises to deliver us.
People will follow the one they’ve seen and trust. We pray that people will learn to follow Jesus because they’ve seen Jesus living in us. The Way is not easy, but those who are traveling the Way of Christ know there is no better way.
May our words and our lives bear witness to our testimony.
In Christ,
Jon McCoy
