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 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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