If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts.
--1 John 5:9-10a
There is a certain wisdom in telling your story. After all, it's your story and no one else's. When someone shares their story with you, you may spot similarities to your own story as well as some differences.
Countless folks who are in recovery from chemical dependency definitely know the value of telling the story. They talk about how it was (when they were in the grips of addiction), what happened (the steps they took to loosen that grip), and how it is today (the different life they live now). Hearing stories like that produce a kind of solidarity between those who share and those who listen.
On occasion, people are asked to "tell their story" -- or give their "testimony" -- within the parameters of a Christian congregation. These testimonies have value in that they personalize the faith and "bring it close to home," to borrow a phrase.
The One who really brought it close to home was -- and is! -- God! In the incarnation, He became one of us. In His death, our sins were dealt with. In His resurrection, He paved the way for our own. This testimony is in a class by itself. The testimonies of others have their ultimate benefit when they point away from themselves to the testimony of God. Within that testimony, we truly find our own.
PD
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