Witness of Jesus

Once a month, in front of our church congregation, we have the opportunity to bear our testimonies of Jesus Christ. It's a moment to reflect on blessings, share what we know to be true, what we believe, what we hope for. 

Today, as I was listening to others share, the following thoughts came to mind:

A witness, as a noun, is a person who sees. As a verb, it's a chosen action: to not look away, to tell the truth, to testify. I love to know the etymology of things I'm thinking about, so here's part of the Merriam-Webster definition. More thoughts below. 

witness

noun

wit·​ness ˈwit-nəs 

1

: attestation of a fact or event : testimony

2

: one that gives evidence

specifically : one who testifies in a cause or before a judicial tribunal

3

: one asked to be present at a transaction so as to be able to testify to its having taken place

4

: one who has personal knowledge of something

5

a

: something serving as evidence or proof : sign

b

: public affirmation by word or example of usually religious faith or conviction

witness

2 of 2

verb

witnessed; witnessing; witnesses

transitive verb

1

: to testify to : attest

2

: to act as legal witness of

3

: to furnish proof of : betoken

4

a

: to have personal or direct cognizance of : see for oneself

b

: to take note of

5

: to constitute the scene or time of

intransitive verb

1

: to bear witness : testify

2

: to bear witness to one's religious convictions 

I want to be a witness and an example of that type of love because this has been my experience of what and who Jesus is. He is the epitome of humility, goodness & charity.

 He is quiet love - like simple, everyday answers to prayers. 

He is loud love - like flipping tables at the temple & leaving the 99 to search for the 1. 

He's boundless love - communing with those considered "sinners," those cast out of society. 

He's equitable love - he listened to women preach. He spent time with children. His love doesn't distinguish between us based on looks, money, politics, social status, gender, border or even religion. 

His grace extends to each and every one of us. His love is specific and individual. He's in the details of our lives. He wants us to choose to walk with him, but he extends his love to ALL. He spent his time with the broken, the used, and the broken-hearted. 

In my experience, Jesus Christ wants us to care for all of our brothers and around the world. What does this mean? Every human we interact with, we should leave better than we found them. Especially those we disagree with and those it's easier not to love. Choosing empathy and compassion. Listening to understand. Loving without strings. These are radical acts of Christlike love.

We can do all things through Jesus. He's our advocate, our brother, our friend. His love for us is boundless, eternal and unconditional. If we want to know if someone is like Jesus, if WE are, "by their fruits ye shall know them." 

There are thirteen articles of faith we believe in. They are proclamations about things we, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints collectively agree on. The 13th says "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." 

By our fruits ye shall know us. 

It is my greatest hope that I can live in a way that makes people feel safe, loved and like they matter. I hope the fruits of my every day can exemplify my love of the Savior. 

I believe that we are divine beings of Heavenly parents and we were sent here to care for one another. Today my husband said "God is not a gatekeeper; he removes obstacles in our path. He doesn't put them there." I truly believe that. We are never beyond the reach of His love. 

✌️ ❤️