You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews.
John 4:22 (NLT)
Bottom line: Experiencing God is the best way to know him.
Teaching
Many Christians desire God’s divine intervention in their lives. They desire to see God at work in their lives, performing miracles and breakthroughs. They want multiplication of “bread and fish” in their lives. They want miracles but do not desire to know the one who makes these miracles possible.
Very few Christians embark on a journey of knowing God, regardless of whether God blesses them. Today, the blessing is more sought after than the one who blesses. As a result, today’s church is full of believers who do not know the God they believe in. They can quote scriptures from the Bible but can’t tell you much about the God who inspired life into these scriptures.
In our opening text, the Bible shows us that this was the problem that the Samaritans had. They worshiped a God whom they knew so little about:
22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews.
John 4:22 (NLT)
Jesus explained to the Samaritan lady that their lack of knowledge about the God they worship is the root of their lack of faith.
Today, we face the same problem. Because we know so little about God, we can’t do any great works in His name. As the scripture says:
32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
Daniel 11:32 (KJV)
But the knowledge the Bible is talking about here is not the knowledge that you acquire just by reading about God in the Bible. The scripture here talks about knowledge acquired through experience. There is a deeper knowledge of God that you receive through experiencing Him which goes beyond the written pages of the Bible. This is the knowledge that saves. This is the knowledge that brings to reality every scripture which you read.
John the Apostle testified of this knowledge:
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:1-3 (KJV)
The apostles could testify about Jesus with so much power and sacrifice because they had experienced His presence, and they had a deeper knowledge in their spirits of His personality.
If we must know God’s power and see a mighty move of His Spirit in our lives, then we must seek to know Him intimately as a person through a constant fellowship with His Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Let us not only quote the Scriptures, but let us know the God of the Scriptures, and our lives will take an upper turn, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Further Study
- John 17:3 [And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.]
Reflection
- What personal experience have you ever had of God?
- How much time do you spend with God in prayers and meditation?
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for your Spirit at work in me, who makes your word alive in my spirit. I pray for a greater experience of your person, as I fellowship with you daily through your word and prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.
