Personal Encounters with Christ
and the danger of standing on a Sit n’ Spin.
When I was eleven or twelve years old, I stood on a sit-and-spin. What happened next should not have been surprising, but I ended up losing my balance, falling off, and hitting my head on a metal bed frame. The fall led to an ER trip and several staples in the back of my head. I remind myself of this moment every time I try to tell Kelsey not to do something because it might hurt her. Sometimes, it takes the personalized experience to really grasp something. Sometimes, even our very own, very real experience can only stir something in someone.
This Sunday, our congregation looks at the story of the woman at the well in John’s gospel (Jn 4:1-42). I’m not quite sure why, but for many years, I have stopped this story at her leaving to tell others and miss that the scene doesn’t finish there. The disciples try to feed Jesus as the woman leaves to tell others. Jesus tells them that He doesn’t need that physical food when there is a harvest at hand, and then the people who have heard about Jesus from the woman come, experience Him, and believe in Him more fully.
As I read about the woman at the well this time, it really challenged me. We are sent to share Jesus with others, but more importantly, we are called to share in a way that points them to an encounter with Jesus of their very own. I started to reflect and ask the question: Do I ever focus too much on my experience, forgetting to point them to Jesus altogether? Our experience matters because it plants a seed, but faith in Jesus is more than telling stories; it’s about real experience that leads us to the realization that the only way forward and for true fulfillment in life is a life lived through and surrendered to Jesus.
We only come to this surrender when we meet Jesus in the midst of our own personal brokenness. Someone else’s story might make us curious. It might help us take steps to learn more or meet with Jesus on our own. But until we see our deep need for a savior and meet our only savior, Jesus Christ, we won’t really surrender our lives to Him. It might be a great idea; we might go through the motions of doing the “right thing,” but when we really experience Him in our own lives, that’s when our lives really change.
Sometimes we have very real encounters with Christ; sometimes we are called to share them with others, but once we do, we have to point to Christ, get out of the way, and let them meet Him for themselves.
Today I challenge you to meet Christ, to share your story, and let Him have encounters with those you shared your story with.
Reflection Questions
1. Do I share my encounters with Christ with others? If not, what is stopping me? If yes, am I pointing others to encounter Jesus for themselves?
2. How can I intentionally share my encounter with Christ in a way to point them to their own encounters with Him?
Lord, help us to meet you and invite others to encounter you so more would really know you. Amen