TESTimony

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. (John 9:1-3 NIV)

Do you have setbacks and inadequacies? Are you a little different than the rest? Do you often wonder why must you go through so many trials and tribulations? Do you feel like you are the only one going through? Do you ever find yourself wondering what you did wrong or find yourself simply crying out “why me"?

Well, I am here to tell you that you are going through so that you can get through and your Father in heaven can be glorified. The word tells us that we are overcomers, more than conquerors and great because He that it in us is great. But if you had no obstacle and no battles what would you overcome? What would you conqueror?

The blind man in the text was born without sight. The people reasoned that it was a curse of the Lord that deemed him as such. However, we know that he was made blind so that Jesus could restore his sight. You are poor so that he can make you rich, alone so that He can comfort you, sick so that he can heal you and suffering so that He can allow you to reign with him. This is only a test that you are going through so that you can come out with the TESTtimony and God can be glorified.

Jesus said if He be lifted up, He will draw all men unto Him. So as you go through know that all things work together for the good of those that love God. This is all for your good and more importantly for His glory.

Shanita Waters
Author of By His Stripes We Are Healed
www.waterplantgrowth.com

Do I need to show you my scars?

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." (John 20:24-27)



When Jesus was resurrected and given a new body, he kept the same hands that were pierced by the nails that were used to crucify Him. Have you ever wondered why Jesus held onto the scars? Have you ever wondered why after all that he went through He would want to walk around with that reminder? Have you ever wondered how He could bear to look at the physical evidence of all of the suffering he endured? Thomas didn’t believe that the other disciples had seen Jesus. Thomas didn’t believe that Jesus was resurrected. He needed tangible evidence. In the story, Thomas was able to physically put his fingers through the holes in Jesus’ hands and stick his finger into His side. Because Thomas saw that Jesus was resurrected as He told them that he would be, Thomas was able to believe. Some people don’t believe that they can heal from the wounds that life inflicted on them until they see someone else’s scars and how they were healed through the blood of Jesus.



We, like Jesus are resurrected (by baptism) and we too have scars from our former lives in our unsaved state. Those past heartbreaks and heartaches are our scars. Some of us have some incision marks from operations that science said we wouldn’t survive, scars from past physical injuries or children from failed relationships. Nevertheless, we have these scars to give hope to a dying world that just as we were once hurt, injured, bound or deserted and we recovered that they can too. We are to rejoice in the fact that Jesus healed those wounds, made us whole and gave us a testimony to encourage someone else. The bible teaches us that we overcome not only by the blood of the lamb but also by the words of our testimony.



So the next time you see someone facing a similar hurdle that God brought you over ask them: Do I need to show you my scars?





-SW