If we only knew...

We open the scene with a stranger asking a woman for a drink as she goes to draw water from the well in the middle of the afternoon. The woman, a Samaritan, recognizes Jesus only as a Jew and no friend to her people. She immediately begins to question his motives. Jesus, knowing what she does not know, meets her trepidation with these iconic words, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is who says this to you, 'Give me a drink', you would have asked Him (instead), and He would have given you living water."

When I read this portion of the story of the woman at the well in John 4, a story that I have heard and read many times, those poignant words of Jesus stood out to me.

If we only knew the gift and by what means that gift comes to us.

Something that has come up recently in conversation, sermons, and even counseling sessions is that freedom and peace (and so much more) lie in our ability to take scripture at its word. Instead, we often meet it with trepidation. As if WE are that Samaritan who has no clue who is standing in front of us.

There seems to be a pervasive disconnect between what Christians read and what we actually expect or imagine him to do.

We read about the counselor, the helper, the one who, Jesus says, reveals all truth in John 16, but then we somehow never connect the words to our present life.

We are faced with a problem or decision, and we try to solve it on our own or come up with ways that we think God might handle it or want us to handle it, never really asking for his input (John 16) (Proverbs 16:9).

We walk into a new job, late for dinner, face a financial problem, or experience a distressful or even traumatic situation, and leave the words on the page (Psalm 46:1-2). Approaching the situation as if we are saved orphans, rescued but left to fend for ourselves (John 14:18).

We read scripture, hear sermons, talk about them in Bible study, wear them on t-shirts and mugs, but they never become real to us like the moment the other Semaritans came to him. (John 4:42)

But oh friend, if we only knew (John 3:12).

We read passages like James 1:22 and think of this as doing works rather than putting his words into action through faith.

We rip apart Philippians 4 into mantras on coffee mugs, but never allow the lesson and instruction to become part of how we move through stressful situations.

We face financial difficulties with worry as if God didn't make promises to us in Mathew 6 and beyond.

We are often so overcome by the problems of this world, and instead of standing on Matthew 6:26-33, the only thing that separates us from the very people we are called to share the good news with is church on Sunday or a couple of one-liners that sound really good but carry very little actual power and change in our own lives.

But oh friend, if you only knew.

If you only knew why he wanted these words written down for generations (John 20:31).

If you only believed that fear is a spirit so easily overcome by God's spirit (2 Timothy 1:7).

If you only understood when he said he would send you the most amazing helper who reveals all truth, brings to remembrance all things, and helps you overcome the things that get in the way of righteousness (John 16:7-13).

If you only knew who stood before you on the pages before you (John 1:1).

How much differently you would move through life today!

This week, I encourage you to study some of the last words of wisdom spoken by Jesus to his apostles in John 14-16.

What is Jesus saying is available to us through the personal and close attributes of the Holy Spirit?

What are you not accessing because you are not connecting the words on the page to the life you live?

Journal your answers. Invite God through His Holy Spirit into the conversation. Search Jesus through scripture and let him teach you how to walk like you have the Kingdom of God at hand.

As always, if you need help learning how to walk this out, living out scripture in daily life, developing your relationship with him, and getting free from the things that hold you back, I would love to help! Please reach out at muckandmire.org and schedule a consultation.

Have a blessed week!

Susanne

Biblical Counselor

Muck & Mire Biblical Counseling