Does seeing and hearing lead to believing?

"We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." 1 John 1:3

I'm sitting in a popular coffee shop, listening to the elevator music and pieces of conversation that float around me. Over the din comes a man's voice, speaking slowly, carefully forming each word.

"How are you feeling, Mom?" He's on the phone several booths away, but I hear his voice as if he sits beside me. He waits while she speaks.

"I know you're tired. Let me pray for you before we go." He has to repeat it twice, and each time he expresses patience and kindness.

And to my astonishment, he prays. Loudly. Slowly. With the entire coffee shop listening. I'm embarrassed and saddened to admit that this astonishes me. How different would our world be if we all took opportunities as this man does, as the disciples did, to pray for others? To do so without shrinking or puffing ourselves up? And in praying, to actually see and hear and have fellowship with Jesus and His followers?

For those of you that don't know Jesus, let me say this: sometimes having a personal interaction with Him looks different than we expect. It's not ethereal or mysterious. It's not soul-shaking. It doesn't alter the planets. But hopefully it alters us, and in time it should shake our souls to the point of seeking Jesus and everything He stands for.

This man's simple action of love altered my day. Changed the course of my actions. I pray you see and hear Jesus in your life through simple actions of love, that your actions and your souls are shaken by knowing Him. And I pray that, seeing and hearing, you believe and accept Him.

"But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn - not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God." John 1:12-13

Whether or not you believe Jesus is the Savior of the world, have you had a personal experience that brought you closer to accepting Him? Please share your thoughts with us!