ERCC DEVOTIONAL (TEKAN) DAILY SPIRITUAL DIET;TUESDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER, 2023
TEXT: JOHN 4: 16 - 26.
SPIRITUAL FOCUS: JESUS WENT THROUGH SAMARIA.
While on earth as a human, Christ Jesus devoted Himself to this most important work, which is preaching (1 Cor. 1: 17), He did not baptize anyone, He left it to His disciples.
This shows us the importance of serving the Lord which He does through men (vs. 1 - 3). Today's reading shows us that there is enmity between Samaritans and Jews and therefore Jews do not pass through Samaria.
But the road that Jesus would take as a road to Galilee goes through Samaria which was a big risk for Him. The Lord was tired in the journey, but it God's plan for Him to meet a woman, a Samaritan, so He could preach to.
It is important that we know the Lord Jesus because He was in the flesh to save us, became exhausted and thirsts like every other human being, because of thirst and weariness from the journey, He said to the Samaritan woman, "Give me a drink" (vs. 7). The woman took her culture seriously and even asked if the Jew would ask for water from a Samaritan (vs. 9). Even today we have such people who take their culture and religion more seriously than anything else.
They admit that they have been misled into believing the truth. As followers of Christ who know the truth, we should take our faith seriously and take our religion seriously too. We should not even allow culture and other heresies to confuse us and lead us astray. Sadly, today there are those who profess to be followers of Christ, wanting to have a higher position and marriage have denied their faith.
We ask the Lord Jesus to encounter them - Amen.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Testimony of Jesus by your words.
PRAYER: Lord God, I beseech You, help me to do Your will alone in my life in the name of Jesus, Amen.
JOHN 4: 16 - 26 (MSG).
16 He said, "Go call your husband and then come back."
17 "I have no husband," she said. "That's nicely put: 'I have no husband.'
18 You've had five husbands, and the man you're living with now isn't even your husband. You spoke the truth there, sure enough."
19 "Oh, so you're a prophet!
20 Well, tell me this: Our ancestors worshiped God at this mountain, but you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place for worship, right?"
21 "Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither here at this mountain nor there in Jerusalem.
22 You worship guessing in the dark; we Jews worship in the clear light of day. God's way of salvation is made available through the Jews.
23 But the time is coming--it has, in fact, come--when what you're called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter. "It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship.
24 God is sheer being itself--Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration."
25 The woman said, "I don't know about that. I do know that the Messiah is coming. When he arrives, we'll get the whole story."
26 "I am he," said Jesus. "You don't have to wait any longer or look any further."
