A Lesser Experience?

There are times in our lives when we're tempted to feel like God loves others more than us because of the mountaintop stories they share. For some, seeking Jesus and hearing Him is a normal thing. When people share their encounters with God, their stories may leave you awestruck, yet discontent with your own lack of experience. Unfortunately, the temptation to compare may leave us focusing on the wrong thing.

There is a healthy part of hunger. But there's also a misconception that can creep in when you hear these stories. You may think one experience with God is not as powerful as another. Your friend seeing angels, being taken to places in the Spirit, or hearing the audible voice of God seems more powerful than your small testimonies of hearing His still small voice, having a dream from God, or encountering Him in the Word. Or so it seems.

“Look at Me”

Philip asked a question that prompted Jesus to give him, and us, a picture of what we are supposed to pursue. Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us."

Jesus basically said, "You've already got access. Look at Me."

In the same way that looking at Jesus is looking at the Father, when we experience the Holy Spirit, we are experiencing Jesus. Whether God communicates through an impression, a dream, a picture in our mind's eye while praying, or His internal voice, we are witnessing God. And that is cause for great joy: there is no degree of experiences in Heaven reserved only for favored followers of Christ. Jesus is Jesus to all of us, in whatever way He presents Himself in us and through us.