Experiencing Christ

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

“1 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 4 My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.”

People can tell us about Christ, we can read books about Christ, and we can even read the gospels and still not know Christ.  We will know about Christ, but we will never know Him until we experience Him through the power of God.

We first experience this power when we realize who God truly is, who Christ truly is and who we are; that we stand before the creator as a sinful creature.  And in this realization our response is to humbly acknowledge our shortcomings and ask for forgiveness.

It is then, when we experience the love and forgiveness of God and we know that Christ is our savior, that our relationship with Christ begins.

As Christians, we are in an active, intimate relationship with Christ that transcends all worldly wisdom; a relationship that affects all aspects of our lives and runs counter to the values and teachings of the world.  

A life characterized by love, mercy, kindness, charity, and forgiveness requires a close personal relationship with Christ… and the power of the Holy Spirit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law against such things.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)