Messengers of the GospelSample

All Things Made New in Jesus

I was having coffee with a new friend and asked to hear her story. She opened up personally, and we quickly realized we had much in common. I deeply resonated with what she had gone through with her family and some of the tools she had learned to move past the hurt.

Then, I asked her to share her salvation story. She paused and said, “I don’t know what you mean by that.” I gently explained, “When did you surrender your life to Jesus and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior?” She told me she never had. I asked if I could share my own story of how I came to know Jesus personally, and she said yes.

As I shared my story with her, she began to see how similar our journeys were. I told her about a time in my past when I was hurting deeply, but someone told me that I didn’t have to carry my burdens alone. They explained that Jesus was waiting for me to invite Him into my heart. He was the only one who could heal my brokenness, and He could use what had caused me pain for a greater purpose. Because of that person’s boldness and compassion, I asked Jesus to forgive, save, and heal me. I was healed from being dependent on alcohol, food addictions, and weight-loss supplements. Jesus also began to help me with my co-dependent tendencies and people-pleasing. Jesus allowed me to begin serving in my local church regularly. As He brought healing and freedom into my life, I had the opportunity to share my story in recovery settings where others were also seeking freedom as well.

After I finished sharing my story, I shared the good news of the gospel with her. Right there at that table, she prayed and asked Jesus to forgive her and come into her heart.

What a powerful reminder that God uses our stories—our pain, our healing, and our transformation—to reach others in His perfect timing. The story I shared wasn’t polished; it was raw, real and redeemed. That’s the kind of story that people connect with. It wasn’t a sermon or a perfectly worded message; it was a simple, honest conversation rooted in shared experience and God's grace. My real story led my friend to Jesus. Your real and personal testimony can make the gospel tangible and relatable to someone around you as well.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

This verse beautifully captures what happens every time someone surrenders their life to Jesus. Our past no longer defines us; we are transformed by His grace. When my friend prayed that day, she didn’t just receive comfort; she stepped into a brand-new life. The friendship that she and I have will now continue into eternity. The songwriter Michael W. Smith captured the beauty of leading a friend to Christ with the simple lyric, “Friends are friends forever if the Lord is the Lord of them.”

Now, that is something amazing to be a part of!

When we share our story, we’re not just sharing memories; we’re proclaiming the miracle of new life in Christ. We are proclaiming what Jesus has done for us. Don’t underestimate the power of your testimony. Your story may be exactly what God uses to draw a friend, neighbor, family member, or even a stranger to Himself.

Reflection:

1. Has Jesus rescued you, freed you, or delivered you from something? If so, can you share the story in a clear and simple way?

2. Consider sharing the story of rescue today with one of the five people you have been praying for.