Our Experience
We proclaim to you the One who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This One who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen Him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that He is the One who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then He was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.
1 John 1:1-4 (NLT)
When I experience a good meal, a situation that brings a big laugh, or I go on a memorable trip, I want to tell others about that experience. I want to describe the details of what I tasted, what I heard, and what I saw so that my friends can get a taste of what I experienced. Ultimately, I’m sharing the experience because I’m hoping those who hear my story will get to enjoy a similar experience. It was impactful for me, and I want others to know the impact as well.
The writer of this passage was the apostle John, one of Jesus’ 12 disciples when He walked on this earth. John explains how he saw Jesus with his own eyes and touched Him with his hands. John shares his personal experience of walking and talking with Jesus, saying that Jesus was the One who existed from the beginning of time and is the source of eternal life. John is sharing his personal account of his experience with Jesus, stating what he has seen with his own eyes and heard with his own ears so that those who hear this story can experience Jesus as well. John said he was sharing it so others could have fellowship with him, which means he wants them to experience this same eternal life that he found in Jesus. John wants to include us in the relationship he has with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. John said he was writing about his experience with Jesus so that everyone could share the same joy he has that comes from knowing Christ. John was given the opportunity by God to speak to others through his own story.
When I have personal time with God through reading the Bible or sensing thoughts He puts in my mind through prayer, then I’m having a personal experience with God. When I share that personal experience with someone else, I’m inviting them into that experience. Though I sometimes feel I’m putting myself in a vulnerable position when I express to others what I’ve experienced with God, I also realize that God sometimes speaks to others through the story of what He has spoken to me. A bond develops between people when we share what we’ve experienced with God because that bond includes the Spirit of God.
Application: Ask God to bring to your mind something He’s revealed to you personally, either through the Bible, prayer or through someone else. Find someone to tell about that experience.
Prayer: Father, help me sense what You want me to know from You today. Lead me to someone with whom I can share what I'm sensing from You.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?