Experience

Experience

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

AS AN UNDERGRADUATE in England, I loved exploring Oxford. Our senior tutor constantly reminded us that we were in the land of Alice in Wonderland, and the fact that he carried a very large round clock with him everywhere made that whimsical idea seem like a logical comparison.

Though we share a language and a history, England is very different from the US. Ketchup is sweeter, and peanut butter is hard to find. “Digestives” have nothing to do with health; they’re actually cookies. “Pudding” means dessert, mailboxes are “pigeonholes,” and trucks are “lorries.” There are double-decker buses zooming around, bells ring out from churches every fifteen minutes, and street performers often play the Scottish anthem on bagpipes. Not to mention the fact that the local Pizza Express has seventeenth-century paintings decorating their walls.

Though someone could have explained the differences, experiencing them was what made them real. If someone had mentioned ketchup, for instance, I would have assumed I understood what it was. But in reality, I would have missed the unique nature of the British item. Most of the time, experience is what gives us a more intimate understanding of the truth. We can understand the facts intellectually, but it’s experience that influences us. Yet how can this translate to Christianity? We are told that we must take up our cross and follow Jesus in order to live a Christian life—but how is that possible?

Let’s begin by loving the people Jesus loved (that’s everyone) and serving the people Jesus served. Let’s allow our hearts to be broken by the situations that pained him. Because it’s only when we truly live like Jesus, seeking always to be transformed into his likeness, that we can begin to experience the truth of the parables he taught. When our book knowledge becomes heart knowledge—courtesy of a life lived in pursuit of Jesus—our understanding is deepened through experience. In this way, we can be united with him in both our suffering and our joy.

Lord, help us to seek experiences that honor you and help us to more fully understand you. Amen.

-Kristin

One Good Step: What is the difference between knowledge and experience when it comes to your Christian walk?