Testimony

I was asked to give a communion mediation for our church. This is what I shared...

And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. So we have these three witnesses— the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree. Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son. And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

1 John 5:6-12 (NLT)

The law and I go way back. Early in my adult life I had my share of traffic tickets. Speeding, unsafe driving, running an orange light. I’ve gone to court for a few of them. Simply, you tell your story, the law enforcement officer tells his story. Testimony is given. You win some and lose some.

I’ve served as a Federal Witness. Just after we moved from the Chicago area fifteen years ago, I received a call from a Federal Agent informing me that the trial of some men who were charged with bank fraud was on and that I was to be the final witness. “Get your bag packed because you’re going to testify.” I did and the men were convicted. It wasn’t just my testimony, but the testimony of others and the evidence collected.

I’ve also had the privilege of being in three jury pools. I’ve served on a jury in each of them. Although the three cases were totally different, the basic instructions were very similar. “Listen to the witnesses. Hear their testimony. After receiving instructions from the judge, discuss what you heard in court with your fellow jurors. Come to some form of agreement.” And in each case we did.

Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true.

1 John 5:9-10a (NLT)

So, what are we to do with the testimony given to us by the Holy Spirit and the water and the blood? Ponder it. Discuss it with your friends and family. Come to some form of an agreement. Share it. Testify.