It's All About Jesus: Living a Life of Experiencing Him Every Day

What does it actually mean to live the Christian life? At its core, it is not about religion, effort, or striving. It is about knowing Jesus, being close to Him, and experiencing Him every single day, not just on Sundays.

Is the Christian Life More Than Just Going to Church?

Bible scholar and hymn writer Witness Lee once said, "The Christian life is a life of experiencing Jesus all the time." That statement cuts right to the heart of what so many believers miss.

If our encounters with Jesus are only limited to church services or weekly meetings, we are missing out on the fullness of what God intended for us. Jesus did not die simply so we could attend a service once a week. He died to bring us back to Himself, to restore closeness, intimacy, and relationship.

Think about the people in your life you see once or twice a week. Sometimes we treat Jesus the same way, popping in to see Him on Sunday and then going about our lives. But the Christian life is meant to be a 24/7 companionship. Wherever Jesus is, we are. Wherever we are, Jesus is.

What Is the True Essence of the Gospel?

Eric Gilmour, who served alongside evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, puts it beautifully: "The essence of the Gospel is the restoration of God and man finding pleasure in each other's company."

In the beginning, Adam walked with God in the cool of the day. There was closeness, conversation, and delight in each other's presence. Sin broke that. But the cross restored it.

Through Jesus taking our punishment, our shame, our guilt, and our condemnation, He made a way for us to stand before God as if we had never sinned. Because our lives are hidden in Christ Jesus, God sees Jesus when He looks at us. The joy of knowing God is restored.

Does God Really Find Pleasure in Us?

One of the biggest barriers to experiencing closeness with God is the belief that He is waiting to punish us or have a go at us. When we are sin-conscious and focused on our faults and failings, we struggle to believe God could actually enjoy our company.

But Psalm 103:8-12 (NKJV) speaks directly to this:

"The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." - Psalm 103:8-12 New King James Version (NKJV)

God does not deal with us according to our sins because Jesus already dealt with that. He removed our transgressions so far that we will never find them again. He is calling us to leave the past in the past and come running back to Him.

What Happens When We Mess Up? The Story of Peter

Peter is one of the most relatable figures in the Bible. He was bold, sometimes arrogant, and he made a massive mistake by denying Jesus three times before the crucifixion. He was absolutely devastated by what he had done.

But notice what Jesus did. In John 14, knowing full well that Peter was about to deny Him, Jesus spoke words of comfort to His disciples, including Peter:

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." - John 14:1-3 New King James Version (NKJV)

Jesus saw past Peter's temporary failure and into His eternal future. Peter was included in that promise. Jesus did not write Him off. He spoke comfort, encouragement, and hope.

How Should We Respond When We Have Failed God?

After the resurrection, the moment Peter saw Jesus on the shore, He did not wait for the boat to arrive. He jumped into the water and swam to get to Jesus as fast as He could. His heart had completely changed. The arrogance was gone. What remained was a desperate, wholehearted desire to be close to Jesus.

That is exactly how we are called to respond when we have made a mess of things. Not hiding in shame, but running toward Jesus. God is not standing with arms crossed, ready to condemn. He is reaching out with open arms, saying, "Come close. We will sort this out together."

Repentance is a gift. When we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse. But repentance is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for those who want to keep sinning. It is a gift for the heart that genuinely wants to change and please Jesus.

What Does It Mean to Be One With Jesus?

In John 17, Jesus prays for His disciples and for all future believers. He prays that we would become one with God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Not a oneness in divinity, but a oneness where His character so permeates every part of our being that the overflow of our hearts, our words, and our thoughts reflect Jesus.

Colossians 1:27 (NKJV) says: "To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

This transformation does not come through religious effort or striving. As Eric Gilmour puts it, "Religion is the slavery of effort and striving." We could not save ourselves, and we cannot transform ourselves. We need to let go of self-sufficiency and surrender to Jesus, letting Him change us from the inside out.

How Do We Keep Our Eyes Fixed on Jesus and Not on People?

Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV) gives us a clear instruction: "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."

We live in a culture that idolizes people, and this can happen in church circles too. When we try to look like, sound like, or copy another person, we will not look like Jesus. If we seek inspiration only from other people, we will only receive what they are able to give us. And when people cause us pain, we will live in the discouragement of that.

But when we look to Jesus, He inspires faith in our hearts. He is a constant, permanent source of wisdom, strength, and answers. As Jesus Himself said in John 5, the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation speak of Him. He is the source.

What Does It Look Like to Be Lovesick for Jesus?

The Song of Solomon paints a picture of a bride who is completely intoxicated with her beloved. She says, "Draw me away." Nothing else satisfies her. Just hearing his name is like a soothing ointment to her soul.

This is meant to be a picture of the church and Jesus. When the daughters of Jerusalem saw how lovesick the Shulamite was, they asked, "What is your beloved more than any other?" Her love made them curious. That is the most powerful form of evangelism there is: being so in love with Jesus that others want to know what makes Him so special.

King David echoed the same cry in Psalm 27:8 (NKJV): "When You said, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to You, 'Your face, Lord, I will seek.'"

When we are truly lovesick for Jesus, He flows out of every part of our lives. Every conversation, every action, every interaction becomes an overflow of Him. The greatest testimony we can offer a watching world is a life that is completely captivated by Jesus.

Life Application

This week, make a deliberate choice to open your heart to Jesus beyond your scheduled church time or Bible reading. Whether you are driving, cooking, working, or resting, practice turning your heart toward Him in those ordinary moments. Talk to Him. Be still and listen. Let the relationship become a 24/7 companionship rather than a weekly visit.

If there is something you have been carrying in shame or guilt, bring it to Jesus right now. Run toward Him, not away from Him. Receive the gift of repentance and the freedom that comes with knowing your transgressions have been removed as far as the east is from the west.

Ask yourself these questions this week:

• Am I treating my relationship with Jesus like a weekly appointment, or is He truly part of every moment of my day?
• Is there guilt or shame keeping me from running toward Jesus rather than away from Him?
• When people look at my life, does my love for Jesus make them curious about who He is?
• Am I looking to people or platforms for inspiration, or am I keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus as the author and finisher of my faith?

The Christian life is not a religion of effort and striving. It is a life of closeness, joy, and deep companionship with Jesus. He is the source of every good thing. Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you.