Quotable Lessons

"Nothing ever becomes real till it is experienced - even a proverb is no proverb to you until your life has illustrated it."

~John Keats

I really like this quote.  Mostly because I believe it is true.  We can hear things a million times but that doesn't mean that we believe it or live by it.  Until we experience it, it's just a saying.  Words on a page.  Warnings from someone's mouth.  This is why storytelling is such a powerful way of demonstrating truth - even if it didn't happen to you, the truth becomes more relevant when told in a personal way.  Anyone can teach on forgiveness, even what the Bible says about forgiveness, but unless that person has a story that illustrates a lesson on how he learned to forgive or witnessed someone who demonstrated forgiveness the message doesn't carry the same weight.  Just look at how Jesus taught his followers.  He told stories.  He demonstrated truth.  And it's when we follow Him and practice living the truth of the gospel that we truly experience it and believe it.  James reminds us to be doers of the Word:

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1:22 - 25)

I am working on being a "doer" of the Word.  Following Jesus by living out truth in my life.  Hoping and praying that as I obediently follow Him, His truth and the reality of the gospel will continue to sink beneath my skin and infect my heart.  This year our pastor challenged us to read the One Year Bible.  I've never been one to take up (and keep) a daily Bible reading plan, maybe it's my "otter" personality.  However, even though I'm behind by almost two months in the One Year Bible, I can see a difference in my daily walk with God from being in the Word more consistently.  I've been told for years that I should read my Bible everyday, but it wasn't until this year and having a daily Bible reading plan that I can see how it affects my walk with God.  By starting my day in the Word and being more consistent, my walk with Him has deepened.  I can see now, after experiencing it, that being in the Word is something I need. 

What do you think about the opening quote?  How do you experience truth in your life?  What is something you had to learn through experience even though you heard it before?