Image of Chelsea McMahon and Rev. Greg Hackett, as she shares her testimony at our confirmation rally.
1 John 5: 9-13 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. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
A little girl was asked to share her testimony in front of our confirmation rally this past Saturday. She was, as all could tell, and as anyone would be, scared to death; but she had a story to tell. Her dad died before she was even baptized. Her story is that she was raised in the church by a congregation that loves her and cares for her. Standing tiny at the pulpit of First UMC-Beeville, she was accompanied by her pastor, whose presence gave her strength and courage to go forward and share what God has done in her life through the witness of those who know and love her.
The presence of God is power; and those who know God, as this passage says, have a testimony to share about God and God's Son, Jesus; and that is a story that needs to be shared. Years ago, the United Methodist Church has a weekend event called the Lay Witness Mission and it was designed to allow people to come and hear the testimonies of people such as themselves about what God had and was doing in their lives. As a result of that weekend, many heard the call into ministry. And who, once they've experienced, cannot but share the truth about God's love and power? This writer says: "And here is the testimony: God gave us eternal life,and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life."
Do you believe? If yes, then you, too, have eternal life. Live like it!
PRAYER: Loving God, for the testimony in my heart, I give You thanks! May I share it with others so that they too may believe in the life that never ends in Jesus Christ; in Whose name I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
