“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:15-16 NIV
This scripture really causes me to think. Who do I say that Jesus is when people ask me? Do I quickly respond that He is the Messiah? Do I explain to others how He is the Son of the living God? How do I describe Jesus on a personal level? This is the question that we must ask ourselves once we consider ourselves to be followers of Christ.
Jesus asked Simon Peter a very specific question and Jesus continues to ask His followers this same question today. Who do we say Jesus is? What does He mean to us? What does our relationship with Him look like? The answers to these questions make up what we call our testimony. A testimony is the story of how we feel in love with Jesus and what He means to us. Each of our stories may be different, but in the end, we should all feel very similar about our Savior.
For me, I would say that Jesus is my closest friend. He is the only one I can trust entirely. He is the only one who has never left me nor disappointed me. He loves me no matter what I do or think. He takes care of my worries and my problems. He washes me with a blanket of comfort when I am afraid. He gives me laughter and joy when sadness envelopes me. He sits with me in hospital rooms and waiting rooms. He has held my hand when I faced the possibilities of losing my husband and then my only daughter. He listens to me vent about my problems and hears the whispers of my dreams. He gives me the desires of my heart. He provides for me and takes care of my every need. He healed my husband and daughter and allowed me to keep them with me. He gives me spiritual mentors who not only teach me but pray over me. He gave me a calling and a ministry. He sends the right people into my life at the perfect time and place. He opens the right doors in order to give me a future that I can only dream of. He loves me and I feel His love.
I challenge you to write down all that Jesus is to you. Then share what He is to you with others. When you share your heart for Jesus, others will long to experience what you have with Him. The other benefit of this exercise is that when we remember and focus on all the blessing and benefits of following Jesus it will only serve to encourage our hearts during the dark days which we know will come. So, who do you say He is?
By Jessica Daly | Published author and founder of My Daly Outreach Ministries | Website