Hearing + Experiencing God’s Love
We’ve all heard that faith comes by hearing (Rom. 10:17), which is why it is so important for us to tell people about the love of God and share the good news of the Gospel. But when we share our faith and tell someone of God, that’s only the beginning of their experience with personal relationship with God. In order for us all to full experience God’s love, we need to experience Him for ourselves. Our relationship with God is deepened with hearing and experiencing.
Hearing and Experiencing
Like the Samaritan woman, she shared the news of Jesus and the people said, “now we believe, not just because you told us, but because we have also heard from Him ourselves” (John 4:42). When we share the Gospel it’s like a planting a seed. Our personal experiences of His love and power are watering to the Word that was shared. Our experiences put God’s Word to the test as we bare as first-hand witnesses to His love, provision, and grace upon our lives.
To know of God’s goodness and to know God’s goodness are two different things.
When you share the Gospel of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection with others, pray for them to then experience God in a way they never have before. Pray for them to have an encounter with God that will be undeniably Him.
We need to hear and we need to experience.
If we were to only hear the Gospel, listen to sermons, personal bible study, and have devotional time, but not have any experiences to see God’s character in action, we don’t get to witness the depths of how His word unravels in our lives. God is always at work in our surroundings and our circumstances. We intentionally seek to see Him in the midst of things and give Him glory for all He’s done.
On the other hand, God still protects and provides for people before they’ve even heard the Gospel. But when we personally experience God in addition to hearing the Gospel, we don’t credit the blessings as coming from Him. When this happens, we likely give glory to someone or something else rather than God.
Christ commissioned us to share with others about Him. It’s our responsibility to share the Good News (Matthew 28: 19-20) and bring people into the knowledge of Jesus. Sharing the truth about God’s character and what He’s done for us opens others up to seeing what He’s doing in their lives and helps them in hearing and experiencing God’s love.
When we seek to see God’s steady hand upon us, we experience the God that has been there all along.
Pray for those around you to experience Christ personally. Pray they experience and know He is real, He is close, and He is Lord.
Let’s Discuss!
What are some practical ways to help others experience God personally?
What challenges have you faced in sharing your faith experience or the Gospel with others? How did yu overcome them?
