"It’s all about the theoretical becoming experiential."

A thought by Mark Batterson, (2013-09-24) from his book, All In: You Are One Decision Away From a Totally Different Life (Kindle Location 945). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

I at the age of five on a Sunday morning in my Grandma Williams’ church in Fairview, Oklahoma asked Jesus to come into my heart. It was a very real experience even though I was very young. Now I asked Him to forgive my sins because I knew that was a part of the process but at five I was not a great sinner. So for many years forgiveness was theoretical until I went through what I call my three year jerk time. After asking God to forgive me it was more than a theory it was an experience. I realized what it meant to be forgiven. 1 John 1:9 (NIV), “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” became very real to me.

I like how Mark puts it. “When you first read a verse of Scripture, it’s nothing more than a theory because you haven’t personally experienced it yet. Until you experience it for yourself, God’s grace is theoretical. Once you experience it, it becomes the reality that redefines your life. The same is true of His promises. You have to prove them by putting them into practice. Then when God delivers, theory becomes reality. So over time, the Bible becomes less theoretical and more experiential. Verse by verse, the Bible becomes your spiritual reality — a reality that is far more real than the reality you can perceive with your five senses.”

Is the Bible real to you or is it just a theory? Have you been in a situation where you had no control and that you had to really trust that God was in your life and where you had to “Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV). That verse because very real to us when we found out that Margaret had cancer. And it has been very real to us many different times in our lives.

I hope your relationship with Christ isn’t just a theory but that it is real. That it isn’t something that you just know about but that you live it out every day.

Please let Him have you totally. Really experience Him in your life and your life will totally become what Jesus came to do where He said in John 10:10 (NIV), “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Have you experienced that yet?

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