John 4:43-54, Cemented Faith

“Jesus told him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” 

“Sir,” the official said to him, “come down before my boy dies.” 

“Go,” Jesus told him, “your son will live.” 

The man believed what Jesus said to him and departed. While he was still going home, his servants met him saying that his boy was alive. He asked them at what time he got better. “Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him,” they answered. The father realized this was the very hour at which Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” 

So he himself believed, along with his whole household.”

‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭48‬-‭53‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context 

Belief is an incredible thing…it is the one requirement for salvation yet it is so hard for us.  True belief requires actions that are in line with the thing we are placing our faith in.  We can say we believe the bridge will hold us all we want, but until we walk out onto it, there is no evidence of faith.

This non-Jewish man showed his belief when he stopped pestering Jesus and returned home… His faith was cemented when he left and became real when he saw his healed son.  

We must choose if we will believe, then our faith in Jesus is cemented when we see His action in our lives.

Lord, sometimes my faith is weak…please allow me to see your fingerprints in my life to cement my faith day by day!  Forgive me for needing reminders and allowing doubts to creep into my heart!

John 4:39-42, Come & See

“Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of what the woman said when she testified, “He told me everything I ever did.” Many more believed because of what he said. And they told the woman, “We no longer believe because of what you said, since we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world.””

‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭39‬, ‭41‬-‭42‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

This passage reminds me that my testimony is important to attract others to Jesus, but ultimately they will meet Jesus themselves and they will be convinced by Him.

Lord, help me to introduce people to you, like I have surfing.

John 4:27-38, Known & Loved

“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”

‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭29‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

All her secrets were exposed, but for the first time she was not ashamed.  Jesus saw her, knew her, loved her and cared deeply about her.  She was saved by this simple interaction because Jesus fully understood her and did not reject he or cause shame.

Lord, thank You for knowing me the same way!  Full of love and compassion, forgiveness and grace…help me to reflect You wherever I go.  My desire is that people would recognize You in me, just like the woman saw You as messiah!

John 4:13-26, Known & Expected

“The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Jesus told her, “I, the one speaking to you, am he.””

‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

This woman was waiting for the Messiah, she knew He was coming and what He would do.  It seems that she was excited about His coming and what He would do for her people.  But she didn’t recognize Him when He came and was standing right in front of her.

Lord, I want to know You so well, that if You suddenly appeared I would recognize You.  Help me to walk expectantly looking for Your return ready to join You at a moments notice!

John 4:1-12, Culturally Unbound

“How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” she asked him. For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would ask him, and he would give you living water.” 

“You aren’t greater than our father Jacob, are you? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and livestock.”

‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭10‬, ‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Jesus lived His life truly, He was not moved by the culture into sinful ways, like prejudice or callousness.  He genuinely cared for this woman and went straight to what mattered the most, her spiritual needs…even though that was not what she wanted to be talking about.

She instantly compares Jesus to the greatest humans that she knew about, implying that Jesus must be weaker, or less of a provider.  She will soon find out that Jesus is far greater than anyone we could compare Him to.

Lord, help me to think of You as the great, powerful, rewarding, caring and infinite God You are…not as an amplified version of a good man.  You see my heart and are not moved by cultural norms…You go right to the thing that matters most.  Allow me to see others the same way.

John 3:31-36, Disobedience vs Belief

“The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who disobeys the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭36‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Lord, thank you for saving me!  I love You and want to follow and obey You at every step.  I need your power to keep my belief strong enough to do what You say.  I am tempted to fall down in believing that You have the answers and think that my ideas are better than yours.  When my belief fails, I disobey You.  Strengthen my faith in You so that I can follow you in joy and peace!

John 3:22-30, Peace & Contentment

 “John responded, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven… He must increase, but I must decrease.””

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭27‬, ‭30‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Read Context

Lord, help me to remember that You are behind everything  good and challenging in my life.  All of the things that You give have a simple goal: make me more Christlike and bring You glory.  These are both things that I see great value and increasing reward in.  Peace and contentment as well as joy and delight in You!

Although becoming more Christlike means that my own preferences are slowly becoming less important, the confidence in You soars!  This confidence brings great peace as I rest in Your plan rather than my own.  Help me to trust You more each day!