dont take my word for it
(John 4:39-42)
It is my temptation to fall into the rut of being a lazy student. It has always been far more easy for me to just believe the information, rather than dig, analyze and rationally make my own conclusions about any given subject matter. Hence why science projects were complete drudgery for me. This is true of not just academic students but, unfortunatly, students of God's word.
I was confronted with this truth while reading the story of the Samaritan women by the well. I wasnt so much taken back by her story but rather, by those in her city. She spoke Christ's words to them and they believed. Period. Uh.....wait a second, no. They DIDN'T just take HER word for it. They got up and went to see the Messiah for themselves. "They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world." Salvation, eternal life, and living water were issues and promises far too important to just take someone elses word for it. They were compelled to go and hear it for themselves.
And yet a large portion of Christians (myself included at times) tend to go the easier, less imposing route of just going by hear-say. We are surrounded by Christian tradition. Our families went to church, therefore we were brought up in church. We've learned bible verses in Sunday school and willingly attended VBS programs where we've heard the gospel message over and over, summer after summer, sunday after sunday. And it all sounds pretty good. But, these are all things that can be done without ever making a decision to turn to faith in Christ. I have to remind myself that having Christian parents, doesn't make me a Christian and going to church doesn't make me a Christian. Trusting in Christ's work is a decision that cannot be made for me. Nor is it one that I would want someone else to make for me. Is there any one person that I trust enough to make a call with eternal implication on my behalf. NO WAY! In fact I dont even trust myself that much. But I do trust God's word. And therefore I must be compelled to open it, search it out, "mine" it out and embrace God's truth and love the person of Christ it reveals to me. I must, as the wise Samaritans, believe "for I have heard for myself, and I know that this is indeed the Savior of the world". If there is a lack of desire to know God at all or a lack of concern over eternal matters...then we must asses the condition of our heart , for that is a dangerous place to be indeed. But, not an unchangable one, by God's grace.
It is my temptation to fall into the rut of being a lazy student. It has always been far more easy for me to just believe the information, rather than dig, analyze and rationally make my own conclusions about any given subject matter. Hence why science projects were complete drudgery for me. This is true of not just academic students but, unfortunatly, students of God's word.
I was confronted with this truth while reading the story of the Samaritan women by the well. I wasnt so much taken back by her story but rather, by those in her city. She spoke Christ's words to them and they believed. Period. Uh.....wait a second, no. They DIDN'T just take HER word for it. They got up and went to see the Messiah for themselves. "They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world." Salvation, eternal life, and living water were issues and promises far too important to just take someone elses word for it. They were compelled to go and hear it for themselves.
And yet a large portion of Christians (myself included at times) tend to go the easier, less imposing route of just going by hear-say. We are surrounded by Christian tradition. Our families went to church, therefore we were brought up in church. We've learned bible verses in Sunday school and willingly attended VBS programs where we've heard the gospel message over and over, summer after summer, sunday after sunday. And it all sounds pretty good. But, these are all things that can be done without ever making a decision to turn to faith in Christ. I have to remind myself that having Christian parents, doesn't make me a Christian and going to church doesn't make me a Christian. Trusting in Christ's work is a decision that cannot be made for me. Nor is it one that I would want someone else to make for me. Is there any one person that I trust enough to make a call with eternal implication on my behalf. NO WAY! In fact I dont even trust myself that much. But I do trust God's word. And therefore I must be compelled to open it, search it out, "mine" it out and embrace God's truth and love the person of Christ it reveals to me. I must, as the wise Samaritans, believe "for I have heard for myself, and I know that this is indeed the Savior of the world". If there is a lack of desire to know God at all or a lack of concern over eternal matters...then we must asses the condition of our heart , for that is a dangerous place to be indeed. But, not an unchangable one, by God's grace.
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