Loving God of all people, may Your rich and wonderful blessings be upon this dear reader today; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Dear friends, I thank you again for your faithfulness in your prayers for Nellie and I during our trip to South Africa. We were richly and wonderfully blessed by what God is doing among the people called Methodists all around the world, but especially in South Africa. The World Methodist Council sponsors the World Methodist Conference and it is to celebrate and be aware of needs among people of the world. The Council was started in 1891, a hundred years after John Wesley's death to commerate his work among the people of the world and because they knew that the people called Methodists numbered about 2 million in 1891. Among the purposes for establishing the work of the council is to "Pray for and support needs of persecuted Christians " and "Encourage ministries of justice and peace." The reason we were in South Africa was to celebrate the work of Jesus in ridding the country of apartheid. This was the first time the conference and council could meet their after the end of apartheid and the work of Methodists was key in helping end legalized segregation and injustice. It was a tremendous time of worship and witness to the people of South Africa as well as the 3,000 delegates from around the world. It was very much in line with the Gospel text for this coming week found in Matthew 16:13:
13 When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied, "Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets." 15 He pressed them, "And how about you? Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter said, "You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. 18 And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. 19 "And that's not all. You will have complete and free access to God's kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven." 20 He swore the disciples to secrecy. He made them promise they would tell no one that he was the Messiah. (The Message)
Every day and in every way, you and I have an opportunity to give an answer to Jesus' question, "And how about you? Who do you say I am?" May our words, our actions, our love and compassion give the answer that Peter shared, Jesus is "the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
PRAYER: Loving God, may it be so in my life today and all days; that I give witness to Who you are. May I say something or do something that will glorify You and give evidence that in my heart, You are the Messiah, the Son of God, and my Lord and Savior. I pray this in Thy name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
