Sharing What We Have Seen And Heard

Emma Miller, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Take a moment to be quiet with God. Begin by reading Acts 4 and 1 John 1.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

1 John 1:1-10

We live in a world chronically obsessed with sharing what we’ve seen and heard – in fact, it’s often what women do best! In search of a tried-and-true nail salon? I know a guy. Found the cutest café in a sequestered pocket of the city? I’ve now beseeched 12 of my friends to indulge in their lattes. One of my favorite things about women is that we love to share what we have seen and heard with one another. After reading the passages above, I get chills down my spine when I reflect on the most radical, life-changing mission we’re called to be messengers about. When I compare this message to everything else, the cuticles can wait!

See & Hear It

In the face of immense pressure and opposition from the Jewish leaders, a fire ignited in the bones of the disciples. “We are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard….” (Acts 4:20)  The disciples’ boldness came from the fact that “they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13)  If we’re to garner the same courage and zeal with our peers, we have to get in touch with the treasure we possess, and we have to walk with Jesus.  

In just the first 3 verses of 1 John 1, the words “seen”, “heard”, or “touched”, are mentioned 7 times! If we aren’t personally seeing and hearing Jesus in our lives with hearts of gratitude and awe, sharing about Him will not be second nature. The treasures of the Kingdom of Heaven are at our fingertips. Are you seeing it? Are you hearing it?

Share It

When you’ve been walking with Jesus, sharing Him becomes second nature. A few days ago, I opened my phone to a text from one of my sisters at Northeastern University, Ebube. It read, “Can we get together with my friend, I think she really needs God.” So a day later, the 3 of us huddled around a small table together, poring over scriptures the friend had never read before. We implored her to give this treasure a chance. As I watched Ebube beseech her friend to seek God, she spoke through the sincerest of tears. Her friend was confused and astonished, her eyes shimmered. She then responded with “I don’t know how you both can believe so strongly in something you cannot see, but boy, do I want to try.”

Ebube has believed; therefore she speaks (2 Corinthians 4:13). 1 Corinthians 4:1 ESV deems us “stewards of the mysteries of God” – what job is cooler than that?! What a joy it is as women to be entrusted with the greatest treasure known to mankind. Let us be in touch with it, and let us proclaim it ever so boldly.

How can I become more in touch with what I’ve seen and heard? Can I indulge in deeper Bible study so that I can see and hear Jesus’ presence in my life? How do I want to step out in courage this week to share what I’ve seen and heard? Who is the Spirit nudging me to share this treasure with?

In Acts 4, the disciples end with a prayer for God to perform miracles and grant them boldness. What miracles can you pray for God to perform in your own life?