Today's Devotional Thought
December 16, 2020 by Rachel Piferi
Experiencing Christmas: Day Five
Experiencing Jesus
One of the most spectacular parts of the Christmas story for us is that it is not just a story. It is not just a tale or a fable, but instead, it is an actual account of a real event, with real people, who experienced a very real Jesus. Much like us, each person who experienced Jesus' birth or walked alongside him throughout his life had real emotions and real thoughts and witnessed real things. It was real and it changed their lives in indescribable ways.
Experiencing Jesus changes you.
And it changes you to the point that you can't help sharing the good news that you have experienced with others.
In I John 1, we read the following:
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life - 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us - 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete (v. 1-4, ESV).
All throughout the New Testament, we see disciples and apostles sharing the good news of Jesus. The good news that God's promised Messiah has come. That He has lived among us. And that He died on a cross and was raised from the dead for us.
John's belief in Jesus and his excitement over what he had seen and experienced while walking alongside him is so clear in the above passage. He experienced Jesus in a powerful way and he can't help but tell the world about it.
How about you?
How have you experienced Jesus in your life? How are you experiencing Jesus this Christmas season?
On this last day of our 5-day journey, spend time meditating on the truths you have read in Scripture this week and spend time in prayer today, asking God to open doors for you to share the glorious news that the Messiah has come. Just like the angels said to the shepherds, we have good news of great joy that is for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11).
December