Don’t Chase Encounters—Stand on the Word

There’s something really appealing about the idea that Jesus meets us in everyday life. Most of us want that—we want a faith that isn’t distant or abstract, but real and present in our daily routines. 

A recent sermon on Luke 24 leaned into that idea, reminding people that the risen Jesus walked alongside His disciples, talked with them, and revealed Himself in the middle of an ordinary journey.

At its best, that message is encouraging—and it’s true.

Jesus is alive. He’s not just a figure from history. He rose, and He is present with His people.

But here’s where we need to slow down and think carefully.

In Luke 24, when Jesus reveals Himself to the disciples, He doesn’t start with an emotional experience. He doesn’t create a dramatic moment right away. Instead, He opens the Scriptures and explains what God had already said about Him.

That detail matters more than we sometimes realize.

Because today, we often flip that around. We talk a lot about “encountering Jesus,” about feeling His presence, about sharing personal “resurrection stories.” And while those things can be meaningful, they’re not the foundation of the Christian faith.

Our faith isn’t built on what we feel.

It’s built on what God has already done.

The resurrection of Jesus matters because it actually happened—not because we experience it over and over again. The disciples didn’t believe because they had a feeling. They believed because they were confronted with truth—truth that had already been spoken and then fulfilled.

That’s why Scripture is so central.

When we start putting too much weight on personal experience, things can quietly shift. Faith can become tied to how we feel that day. If we feel close to God, everything seems strong. If we don’t, everything feels shaky. Over time, we start relying more on our experiences than on what God has clearly said.

And that’s not a stable place to stand.

Luke 24 actually protects us from that mistake. The disciples didn’t recognize Jesus at first—even though He was right there with them. What changed wasn’t their surroundings. It was their understanding. And that understanding came through the Word.

They later said their hearts burned within them—not because of a vague feeling, but because Jesus opened the Scriptures to them.

That’s where clarity came from.

Now, to be fair, the sermon also tried to remind people of something important—that Jesus meets us in our struggles, in our confusion, in the ordinary moments of life. That’s true, and it’s something we should hold onto.

But even there, the comfort isn’t based on whether we “feel” Him or “encounter” Him in a certain way. The comfort is based on His promise.

He said He is with His people always.

That means He’s not waiting for us to say the right words. He’s not showing up only when we notice Him. He’s already there—steady, constant, and faithful.

And that’s a much stronger kind of assurance.

So yes, share your story.

Yes, recognize how God has worked in your life.

Yes, be encouraged that Jesus is alive and present.

But don’t build your faith on those things.

Build it on the Word of God.

Because feelings come and go. Experiences can be confusing. But Scripture doesn’t shift. It doesn’t change. It gives us something solid to stand on.

And ultimately, that’s where we come to know the risen Christ—not just in a moment, not just in a feeling, but in truth that holds steady no matter what.