John 4:39 Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!”40 When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days,41 long enough for many more to hear his message and believe.42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world."
It is one thing to tells others about the change in your life and still another thing for them to quickly see the change and acknowledge that change. The woman at the well went back to her village and testified about Jesus and the change He had made in her life and many in the village believed and received Jesus. Jesus only stayed two days, but the effect on those villagers was massive as His message of hope and salvation impacted the entire community. So we tend to look at the Samaritan Woman and how her change brought so many to Jesus, but did it really? In verse 40-41 it says When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days,41 long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. The message of hope from Jesus was so strong and so pure that the whole village was affected in some way or the other. It appears the woman continued to be a strong, vibrant witness in her community for Jesus, these people had experienced Him themselves and they said "We have heard Him ourselves."
The woman's testimony went from what Jesus had done in her life to what Jesus CAN do in their lives. Taking the spotlight off of her and putting it back on the source of this salvation, Jesus. May we never forget where we are in this process of witnessing and keep the main thing, the main thing!!! We must always point people to experience Jesus first hand themselves and not through our lives. The tendency to do the Second Hand Faith relationship is something we should avoid at all costs. Each person who hears the wonderful life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ has their own experience to rely on. So kids can't live their faith through their parents and parents can't "wish" their kids into heaven by just telling them about Jesus. Each person has an individual relationship with Jesus and they experience salvation First Hand!! I believe we are an important part of pointing people TO Jesus, but that is where our part stops and the message of hope and the power of the Holy Spirit kicks in. And that is what makes Jesus so personal to each one who has received Him. Jesus comes into your life....Your life. And He begins a very personal transformation that is fitted just for you. Anything else will slide into religion through a shared faith trumping the individual experience and that minimizes the sanctification process that is necessary to grow us in our faith.
I trust Jesus to work a great work in you, and know that your relationship with Him is premiere for growing you in your faith. I can help that process along AFTER you have received Him by faith, but it is so very personal for you and that is beyond my comprehension of what is best for you. Jesus is the life-changing force in your life and He wants to be so much more in your life than just a distant friend. Jesus IS your life now and at your core or your soul there is something radical that has happened. And that is the First Hand Reality of the whole experience. In verse 42 the people of the village proclaimed these important words and those words are a follow up to this blog. 42 - 42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.” Now. you should be able to realize as the Apostle Paul stated in Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
We live in a First Hand Reality. Not a Second Hand Faith!!!
The Pilgrimage Continues......
David Warren
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