Encountering JesusSample

Encountering Jesus is complex because while it takes many encounters and a lifetime of learning and growing to fully embrace a relationship with Jesus, at the same time, it only takes one encounter to truly change us. A cool story of this is found in some of Jesus’ last moments before his death on the cross. Jesus was mid-crucifixion — a painful, humiliating death at the hands of the Roman government — while two other men were facing the same fate on either side of him. One of the men mocked and insulted Jesus. But the other man asked Jesus to remember him; he confessed to Jesus the way that he had messed up and owned the fact that he deserved the death that Jesus didn’t. This exchange only took a couple of moments, but it left the second man with a completely altered future. Jesus told him he would be with Jesus in “paradise” that day. One encounter with Jesus, and the man had a brand-new life — an eternity in heaven with Jesus, forgiveness for his mistakes, and a restored relationship with God. It's the same with us. It only takes one encounter to make our whole lives different.

Challenge: When was the first time you encountered Jesus? Take a second right now to stop and think about your first encounter with Jesus. How old were you? Who else was there? What did you hear about him? What were your first reactions? After you reflect, ask God to make you more like him with each encounter.