Last week during my quiet time, I felt it on my heart to reread the story about the Samaritan woman in John 4 which offered new insight to me.
The story starts with her drawing water from the well and Jesus asking for a drink. During this time, Jews did not interact with Samaritans so she was initially caught off guard by the unusual interaction but then he spoke about “living water” which sparked her curiosity. She wanted to experience the living water so she would never thirst again.
When Jesus replied to her with the information that only a prophet would know, she understood that there was something different about this man.
In verse 25-26, “The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us. Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!”
By this time his disciples came back and because this was an interaction with a “man” that should have never happened, she left her water jar and went back to her village to tell the other Samaritans what she had experienced.
I love how I was able to see how her faith helped so many others who were never supposed to interact with a Jew.
“We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”-John 4:42
I love how initially they believed in Him because of her but then the Bible shows us how they were now able to believe for themselves.
This made me begin to ponder. For so many years, I relied on others to teach me the word and confirm things for me. Whether it was a pastor, my grandparents or my parents. Don’t get me wrong, I’m incredibly grateful for the foundation that was set for me as I grew up in the church. But I’m at a place now where second-hand information just isn’t enough. I need to know him for me. I want God to speak his truths and revelations to me first and then have someone else to just seal it with what I already know. It’s no longer enough for me to hear the Word from someone else, I have to know the Word for me. I love the church and being in the fellowship with other believers but I also love my quiet time with my Savior.
I don’t know about you but I desire to be like the Samaritan woman and help lead others to Him. I want to be used as a vessel for the initial interaction with Jesus but then they will get to know Him for themselves.