See For Yourself

The shepherds in Luke 2 were the first ones to hear the news about Jesus’ birth from the angels. But they didn’t just spread the word based on what the angels told them. They went to see Jesus for themselves. And once they did, they were so overwhelmed with joy and amazement that they couldn’t help but share news of him with everyone they met.  

When the shepherds shared their story about Jesus, people were amazed. They could tell that the shepherds were speaking from the heart. They weren’t just telling people about Jesus; they were sharing their own experiences of him.  

A Collection of Lived Experiences

In his book Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennan Manning said, “When the religious views of others interpose between us and the primary experience of Jesus as the Christ, we become unconvicted and unpersuasive travel agents handing out brochures to places we have never visited.”   

I love Manning’s reference to the importance of first experiencing something for ourselves, before we can effectively share it with others. When I was 16, I was fortunate enough to go on a mission trip to Zimbabwe and experience the different dimensions of food, culture, people, wildlife, and the country’s natural wonders. Almost 25 years later, I can still feel the mist coming off Victoria Falls, the beautiful sound of children at the orphanage singing praise to God, and the fear I felt when a lion came up and pressed his nose to my car window! To me, Africa is not a one-dimensional place on a map. It’s a collection of lived experiences seared into my heart and mind. Experiencing Africa, myself, brought it alive for me. 

Our Own Experience 

My faith is like that, too. For it to come alive, I’ve had to experience Jesus for myself—develop a personal relationship with him. Something beautiful about humanity is that throughout history, no two people are the same. Our physical appearance, our personalities, and our DNA are all unique, which I think means we all experience Jesus uniquely, too. How he speaks, encourages, and leads us is personalized.  

So don’t settle for the brochure—for the one-dimensional, generic relationship. Seek him out yourself. Then, you, too, can share your own experiences of him that may be just what someone needs to take their next step and seek him out themselves. 

Reflect:
What personal experiences with Jesus have seared your heart? How have you shared them with others?