Don't Take My Word for it

Words have so much power. I think sometimes we neglect to realize just how much power we have through the spoken word. We can build someone up. We can tear someone down. We can make people laugh. We can make people cry. Words have power because we have attached a great deal of meaning to them.

Think of this, when was the last time you heard someone talk about food. Like they’re telling you a story about this fabulous restaurant where the food was nothing short of amazing. They go into such great detail you can actually start to taste the food. It’s as if they flavored their words and stuff’em in your mouth. That’s good stuff (and good storytelling). In the end, were you satisfied?

Did their words somehow make you feel full?
Were you OK with simply HEARING what they had to say?
Were you not enticed to go and check it out for yourself or were you willing to just take their word for it?

I don’t know about you, but I’m packing my family up in the van and heading out to this aforementioned restaurant and treating myself to a mouthwatering smorgasbord (and my family too if they behave).

I don’t want to take YOUR word for it. I want to experience it MYSELF.

Read the following text. John tells us the story of how he and Peter HEARD someone (Mary) tell some crazy story about Jesus and how they responded to the words she shared.

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb.
John 20:1-3 NKJV

So, here’s Peter and John (who refers to himself as “the other disciple, whom Jesus loved” which I think is awesome!), listening intently to every word, ever syllable uttered by Mary. She has their undivided attention. And she shares with them some news, some BIG news: Jesus is gone. She herself doesn’t know exactly what’s happened; she just knows Jesus is no longer in the tomb. His body is gone. SOMEBODY has taken him SOMEWHERE. Put yourself in their shoes. I can just imagine being overcome with fear and worry and anxiety and anger. How do they respond?

I don’t want to take YOUR word for it to experience. I want to see it MYSELF.

Peter and John left. They rolled out. I’m sure they were grateful Mary said what she said, but they weren’t going to settle for mere words. They weren’t going to simply take her word for it. I’m sure they TRUSTED her, but some things you just gotta see for YOURSELF. And once you see if for YOURSELF there’s no denying it, no excuses, it’s right in your face, clear as crystal.

When you experience it YOURSELF it becomes PERSONAL. Don’t take MY world for it.

Reflect:

• How have you take the “I’ll take your word for it” approach to your faith?
• Are you actively engaging and pursuing a deeper relationship with God?
• What are some areas in your life that you need to PERSONALLY experience?