John 4: 22
“You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.”
In Acts 17:16 – 34, Luke recounts that Paul visits Athens and notices the altar dedicated “TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.” He, a Jew, explains to the Athenians that salvation comes through Jesus Christ, another Jew.
In today’s verse, Jesus says that the Samaritans worship what they do not know. Even today there are people who worship what they do not know. How are we to know the truth?
There is something unique about Truth! When we talk about Jesus to others, we are not just talking about some “idea” or “theory,” we are talking about a real living person. This Jesus person has the ability to stand quietly out of sight on the other side of the line between this world and spiritual reality. Then, on cue, he reaches through and taps us on the shoulder, or quietly knocks at the door of our heart.
Those of us who worship Jesus worship a God we personally know because he has touched our lives in some way. Romans 8:28 reads: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” We know this because we have lived it.
Q: How does knowing Jesus personally affect your ability to talk to others about him?
Christ in us will speak or act through us as we in humble obedience allow the Holy Spirit to use us.
We have different gifts, but the same Spirit who will use each of us in the unique ministry we have been equipped for.
Sad to say, I don’t have much of an outreach to non-believers. Passages in the Bible about vines not producing fruit tend to haunt me with conviction.
Knowing Christ personally changes what I say from being merely an attempt to convince someone to agree with me about certain beliefs (not that beliefs are unimportant), but to introduce them to a person. Yes, my personal relationship with God is different from other relationships but it is still a real relationship. It takes so much of the pressure off from evangelism – I’m introducing, not arguing – proclaiming, not debating. Scripture and the Holy Spirit have the true power to change hearts.
All good comments! As Ron points out, we all have different gifts. Not all are called to evangelize, yet we are all called to be faithful in acknowledging our Lord. I remember as a young man trying to evangelize and finding myself buried in the burdens of those who were struggling most and in the most need of our Lord. It was as if people were saying, “Okay, if your God is so great, fix all this stuff that is wrong in my world…” When I learned to see Jesus as real I suddenly realized that it was not my job to fix people’s lives, but their job to turn their problems directly over to Jesus. In this sense, the reality of Jesus and knowing him personally has made all the difference in the world for me.
Good point Jeff, biggest problem non believers have is they do not have Christ. Last two passages of Matthew tell us our primary task.
I look for the opportunity to speak His name,..listen for when someone else does and that ask for them to say that name again,..and then tell them did you know you just glorified Jesus?,, then I tell the person whenever Jesus name is said He is glorified,..
My ability has gotten more bolder,..confident,..and humble,..sometimes it is good to know when to speak and when not to speak,..God knows what He is doing in and through each and every one of us,..As Ron stated we all have been given gifts,..His gifts,..so do we leave them on the shelf to gather dust or do we use the gifts He has given to us for this life He has called us to live? Go and make disciples,..scatter seeds,…be still and know that He is God and He will accomplish all He has said He will do and then some,..we are His hands and feet,..His heart and voice if we choose to listen, trust and obey.