PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: John 4:39-42
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“We no longer believe just because of what you said.” (John 4:42)
Second hand faith is when a person believes because of someone else.
Like when children believe because their parents believe.
The problem is that this ‘belief’ is not anchored in reality.
As they encounter real life, many second hand believers stop believing.
Until they experience it for themselves; until they meet Jesus themselves.
“Now we have heard for ourselves.” (John 4:42)
This is what I hope for all the people that I share Jesus with.
I do not want people to believe because of what I say.
My hope and prayer is that they will hear/experience Jesus for themselves.
Telling our children or friends about Jesus is not enough.
It would be better to show them how to find Jesus, modelling prayer.
Pray to the Lord that they would have a powerful personal God-experience.
Like Paul, that they would have a Damascus road encounter with Jesus.
For until God opens the eyes of their hearts, we can’t make them see for themselves.
PRAYER
Lord, I’ve experienced the frustration of trying to convince someone else. Help me not to trust my wise and persuasive words, but to pray for a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.
“We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves…” These are most satisfying words to hear – when someone says to that they have moved beyond what your said or did to try and convince them of the gospel and have discovered for themselves. When I realized that my witness is to point people to Jesus – that it is the HS that must do the work of leading people to explore the scriptural claim especially John 14:6 – Jesus is the way. They have to hear by words or deeds – but they must discover themselves. That is what happened at Sychar – the Samaritan woman was just a messenger. Lord I pray use me to be like the Samaritan women – excited to share the words of life!
I am a living epistle – people read me. My words and deeds need to be an expression of His love. Living for Jesus, showing others His love, His power, His presence in my life may ignite their desire to know Him. It is the Spirit’s presence and power which gives increase to that which was planted. Use me Lord as an instrument of Your peace.
Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.
Refrain
Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.