My Testimony

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

This summer, I’ve had opportunity to preach through 1 Peter at hope Lutheran Brethren Church in Appleton Wisconsin. A couple of weeks ago we arrived at that passage where Peter challenges followers of Jesus to “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (1 Pet 3:15)  I challenged the congregation (and myself) to revisit their personal testimony using Paul’s testimony before King Agrippa found in Acts 26 as a template. I challenge you to do the same, if possible, write it down and keep it in your Bible!

 

Following that template, here is what I came up with for my own personal testimony. Born and baptized in 1947, and raised a Wisconsin Synod Lutheran, attending a parochial school and confirmed and on track to be a Pastor, BUT THEN, but then I fell in with the wrong crowd and began a life of partying that continued well into my adult years. It took my second conviction for drunk driving and waking up in jail one morning to realize that “this is no way to live.”  Now, let me tell you something cool about that. This week I was reading PS 119:59 which says: “I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies.” And I thought that’s it! That’s what happened to me!” “I thought about my ways! I thought, “this is no way to live!” As I hit rock bottom, Jesus came to me through the preaching of His Word, extending His forgiveness to me through faith in Him. It was like I heard this news for the first time! It was “thinking about my ways that opened my ears to the gospel! He led me to repent of my sins, (turn away from them) and receive His promised forgiveness. Oh, He may have died on a cross outside Jerusalem, but I am here to tell you that He rose from the dead and is alive even to this day, working in His word to bring sinners like you and I to a new life. I know that my Redeemer lives and He and I and all who have placed their trust in  Him shall stand at last on earth to live with Him in eternal bliss.  He is risen! That’s my story, it’s God’s story and I’m sticking to it.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.