TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY AUGUST 15, 2017.
EXPERIENCE
DEFINITION:
The process or fact of learning by personally observing, encountering, or testing. The knowledge or skill gained by learning.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all tribulation that we may be able to comfort those who are in trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. II Corinthians 1:3-4.
The above scripture reminds us why as Christians we do go through trials and tribulations. One of the reasons God allows this, as it reads in the above scripture, is that we can comfort those going through their trial and tribulation because we have learned by experience -- we have been there.
As we look back on our lives, we have had the privilege of going places, meeting people and seeing things that has given us a world of experience. We both also have had the joy of having Christian parents with experience, both spiritually and with life in general, to train us from our very young ages.
God blessed us with six children, their spouses, twenty grandchildren and two great grandchildren which has brought us a wealth of experience.
We may hear about or read about an experience someone had but we cannot fully understand what that experience is like until we have the same or similar experience ourselves. We easily forget what we read or hear but we remember well what we have experienced. That is why you hear people say, “Experience is the best teacher.” Through experience we gain knowledge.
We are reminded of the story when the famed pianist Paderewski was walking through a small Connecticut town and came upon a house with a sign in the window -- Miss Jones piano lessons, 25 cents an hour. Listening carefully from the outside he could hear someone playing one of Chopin’s nocturnes, but not playing it very well.
The great pianist walked up to the door and knocked and the delighted piano player recognized who he was and asked him in. He stayed for about one hour and assisted her by correcting her mistakes and then moved on.
About two months later he walked by the same house and noticed a new sign that read: Miss Jones (Pupil of Paderewski) Piano Lessons -- $1.00 an hour. What a difference a little experience makes.
There is value in experience and we as Christians need to realize that the value of our experience in knowing Christ can help us share the good news of the gospel to all we know. Having made our decisions to accept Jesus before we were teenagers has allowed us to grow spiritually as children, teenagers, as a young married couple and now as seniors so we can understand the mountains and valley’s that one goes through in life. We have been there and done it, as they say.
The actions and words of Paul the Apostle in Acts 14 reminds us that Paul was persecuted so he could be an encouragement to others who were or would be persecuted because of their faith.
The Apostle John wrote the book of I John to the believers, so that they may be alerted to and to be able to distinguish between truth and error. In the first four verses he talks about the experiences that the believers have seen, heard and touched concerning the Word of Life. John says to the believers that he reminds us of this so that our joy may be full.
In life today, experience is very important. When one has a job interview one of the first questions asked is about your experience. Asking about experience even goes down to small children. We can remember in coaching our little league teams. The children with some experience were looked to as leaders on the team. When it comes to choosing a leader, a pastor or an executive a key qualification is their experience.
As Christians those of us that have known Jesus for some time need to use the experience that God has given us over the years to proclaim the good news of the gospel to those we touch daily.
Our memory verse for this week is found in Romans 10:17.
So then faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
Help me this day to seek Your guidance in making me become more mature in my faith. Help me to see the lessons You want me to learn from the experiences I have in life. Open my eyes so I can see the needs of others so I can share the good news of the gospel with them.
 |
| Special Price Only $10.00 Click Here for More |
ONE FINAL SUGGESTION.
If you have not received your FREE BOOKMARK from us, please click on either:
or
Write Ken and Dottie a note
And we will send one to you.
It includes 10 golden rules for a happy family.
It includes 10 golden rules for a happy family.
