Darren grew up in Philly. He found trouble and the law found him. He sat in prison with a man sentenced to 119 years on one side of him and another who threatened a family by tossing their baby in an oven on the other. “How could God love guys like this?” Darren thought.

God does love those men. And Darren discovered that God still loved him too. God’s grace is sufficient.

I was thrilled that my church family was able to hear my friend’s testimony. Darren’s kind heart and skillful communicating emptied some tears and challenged some souls.

Darren and I reminded folks that every Christian has a testimony. And every testimony is spectacular. Our jaws should drop when we hear how a prisoner responds to God’s grace. And our jaws should drop when we hear how a student, raised in a healthy family, responds to God’s grace.

Don’t you dare wear your testimony like a second-hand shirt. Your testimony is golden, but not because of you. Your testimony is beautiful because you were beautifully saved by Christ. It is less about you and more about your Savior.

So what’s the best testimony in the world? It’s the one that’s shared. Yours. Mine. A neighbors. A quiet testimony doesn’t testify. It doesn’t spread hope, joy or faith.

Your testimony doesn’t have to be smoothly polished. But writing it greatly helps.

You could take some time to write it. You could read over it. You could share it. You could watch the Holy Spirit work through it. And at that point, it becomes the best testimony in the world.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7).

To hear Darren’s testimony, listen to the June 15th sermon.

Related posts: Three misconceptions about discipleship,  The stages of discipleship.

Darren grace Jesus testimony