WHAT WOULD BE YOUR TESTIMONIAL?

[Pastor Bayo Afolaranmi]

Dearly Beloved,

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR TESTIMONIAL?

"Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. ...Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ?" (Romans 16:7, 10 NIV).

As Paul concluded his epistle to the Christians in the imperial city of Rome, he listed, in Romans 16, a catalogue of people that had influenced his life and ministry in one way or the other. As he was listing them, he mentioned specifically what some of them had done for him and the Christian faith. Among them were Priscilla and Aquila who risked their lives for him (verses 3-4); Epenetus who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia (verse 5); Mary who worked very hard for other Christians (verse 6); Andronicus and Junias who have been in prison with him and were outstanding among the apostles (verse 7); Urbanus who was a fellow-worker in Christ (verse 9); Apelles who was tested and approved in Christ (verse 10); Tryphena and Tryphosa, women who work hard in the Lord (verse 12a); Persis, another woman who has worked VERY hard in the Lord (verse 12b); and Rufus' mother who had been a mother to Paul (verse 13). Paul also made mention of some other people in passing. These included Asyncritus, Ampliatus, Phlegon, Herodion, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, Philologus, Julia, Nereus and Olympas and other unnamed saints.

Interestingly, most of these names are not remembered today because they do not form part of the common names given to our children, however, they have unforgettable testimonials in the Bible.

What would be your testimonial in the roll call of the saints? Would your name be mentioned in passing or would it even be one of those unspecified names? Strive to have good testimonial in your home, church, workplace and the society at large.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).