Encountering JesusSample

Have you ever heard of a guy in the Bible named Paul? You may have heard him called the “Apostle Paul” or referred to as one of the first missionaries and pastors. Paul was this incredible person! He traveled far distances to tell people about Jesus; he was beaten, imprisoned, and ended up killed for his faith. But did you know that Paul actually spent part of his life murdering Christians? It’s true. Paul, who went by the name Saul in his previous life, was a terrifying religious leader who was anti-Jesus in every way
— so much so that he killed anyone who claimed to believe the message of Jesus. Until one day when Paul encountered Jesus for himself. After that one encounter, everything changed. Paul turned his life around, changed his name, and started zealously chasing after Jesus. It just took Jesus encountering him for Paul to realize how he had been living. Jesus isn’t done encountering people. Paul’s story is recorded for us in the Bible, but Jesus is still actively encountering us today. Our stories may not be as dramatic as Paul’s, but if we pay close attention, we will see how Jesus reaches out to each of us. He wants to remind us that he’s there and that he cares for us. Will you see him?

Challenge: Throughout your day today, keep track of the ways you can see Jesus encountering you. It could be a song you needed to hear, a text from someone at just the right moment, or a verse that pops into your head! Look for ways that Jesus is reaching out to you today and every day.