Experience

When I read the Gospels, or the Acts of the apostles, I always ask myself two questions: Am I living the principles which they teach; and have I experienced the life which they describe.

If I haven’t, I set out to live the principles; to make the experiences mine – to have my own testimony.

This often demands a long period of time between reading a story and telling it, between receiving a revelation and sharing it. In a sense, it is both a test of faith and integrity.

These, of course, are not new ideas. In his book, ‘A Long Obedience in the Same Direction’, Eugene Peterson wrote, “…everything in the gospel is liveable…” And, the Swiss Reformer, Ulrich Zwingli, wrote, “…I was always determined that what I wrote should be my own, and not someone else’s…”.

These are profoundly important truths for preachers to grasp.

Do we truly believe that kingdom living is attainable?

Are we just preaching theoretical ideas or exemplifying a godly lifestyle?

What do we need to change in order to say with Paul, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1)?

Robert