Thursday Devotional - Firsthand Experience

John 20:2-8  ² So she [Mary Magdalene] came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” ³ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴ Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. ⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.

Peter and John could have taken Mary at her word, but why not see the evidence firsthand? Seeing and experiencing the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection not only helped their immediate belief, but I’m sure it strengthened their confidence for the rest of their lives.

How do you and I seek firsthand experience with God’s evidence? One way is by reading and studying God’s Word personally, looking to know and understand the truth. For starters, you could re-read each day’s devotional passage (or read the verses in the context of the whole chapter) and journal about what you read. Answer questions like: What does it say about God? What does it say about people? What lesson can I apply? What do I find encouraging?    

We can learn from pastors and priests and speakers and podcasts and devotional writers, but nothing takes the place of firsthand experience!

Alice