You know with all this talk about taking down crosses, this no longer being just a Christian nation, people’s disregard for God and misinterpretation of his word, the greed that caused this financial mess and whatever else is being slung at and over people’s heads, I believe it all comes down to Jesus Christ.
Not that Jesus Christ is the problem but Jesus Christ is the solution.
Every person needs Jesus Christ.
I was reading the 4 chapter of John of Jesus asking a Samaritan woman for a drink of water at a well.
The woman is surprised that he is talking to her because Jews at that time refused to have anything to do with Samaritans even though they prayed and worshiped the same God. Samaritans weren't well accepted in fact a Jewish person would go entirely around an area that Samaritan's lived in even if it was shorter to go through a Samaritan village. The woman says to Jesus (John 4:9) “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”
Jesus replies, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
The woman only seeing the physical in his words and not the spiritual solution in his words says, “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket and this is a very deep well. Where would you get this living water? And besides, are you greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us this well? How can you offer better water then he and his sons and his cattle enjoyed?”
Jesus replies, “People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water. But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
(Everything in this world will still leave you thirsty and wanting more because it does not satisfy us and every time a person loses their focus on Christ and puts their focus on the things of this world they become unsatisfied and miserable people. They buy and want more of "this" and "that" but more or less makes them a slave to those things that never satisfy.) The things that enslave a person are no secret, they are things like money, sex, control, material possessions, popularity, and believe it or not even drama where a person has to find something negative about their life feel "normal". Peace makes them "uncomfortable."
The woman replies to Jesus, “Please, sir give me some of that water! Then I’ll never become thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to haul water.”
I don't know what Jesus is thinking here but I would but maybe she doesn't believe him and thinks he is pulling her leg. What would you think if someone said they had something to make your life satisfying. You would probably go get right but when you get it you almost always find it doesn't make your life satisfying and it something you have maintain, secure, protect, or is outdated before you know it.
So what does Jesus do to make his point catch? He asks her to go get her husband but the woman tells him she doesn’t have a husband. Jesus however knows this and says, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband- for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now.”
He speaks the truth... Jesus speaks the truth no matter if it is received good or bad.
The woman then realizes he’s no ordinary Jewish guy and says to him, “You must be a prophet.”
She then asks him, “Why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place to worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worship?”
Jesus replies, “Believe me, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father here or in Jerusalem… But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
The woman- probably a little confused says to Jesus …. “ I know the Messiah will come- the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.
Jesus then dumps it all in her lap and says, “I am the Messiah!”
People tend to look at things mentally and physically but not spiritually. People see the outer problems of a situation or a person but not the spiritual solution to a problem or a person’s life. This is even more compounded negatively because they do not have or are not listening to the Holy Spirit to help them understand what is truly going on.
Notice Jesus you must worship God in spirit and truth. He says spirit first and then truth. I believe it is difficult if not impossible to worship God in truth if you don't have the Holy Spirit who has changed or can change your life. When the Holy Spirit came into my life there was an instant heart change and felt brand spanking new.
Ezekiel 11:19-20 "And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead, so they will obey my laws and regulations. They will truly be my people, and I will be their God. But those who long for idols (things of this world) I will repay them fully for their sins, says the Sovereign LORD."
Jesus says in John 15:26 "But I will send you the Counselor (the Holy Spirit) to you from the Father and will tell you all about me."
Jesus says in John 16:13 "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me. All that the Father has is mine; this is what I mean when I say that Spirit will reveal to you whatever he receives from me."
I remember trying to read the bible before I came to Christ- before I surrendered my life to God. The bible didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Sure there were a whole lot of people and experts who had a lot say about the bible but I had a hard time excepting all what they had to say. The bible was confusing at times so after a short time, I gave up reading it all together until Jesus Christ came into my life and I received the Holy Spirit. Then things in the bible started to make sense.
Jesus Christ is the solution to every problem. Jesus gives the gift of living water.
To make myself clear: That living water Jesus is speaking about is the Holy Spirit, which builds our understanding of Jesus Christ and our faith in Jesus Christ and without “Him” and trusting in “Him” it is impossible to grow in God’s knowledge and attributes/ characteristics. The Holy Spirit’s divine power helps a Christian be effective and productive individuals (2 Peter).
A nation or people that do not have God and Jesus Christ as their foundation will fail, be unproductive, unsatisfied, and fall into deeper sin.
Matthew 7:26 “But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.”
Luke 6:47-48 “I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then obeys me. It is like a person who builds a house on a strong foundation laid upon the underlying rock. When the flood waters rise and break against the house, it stands firm because it is well built.”
2 Timothy 2:19 “But God's truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and "Those who claim they belong to the Lord must turn away from all wickedness."
And yes, there is no such thing as a perfect Christian. If there were such a thing as a perfect Christian or person- we wouldn’t need Jesus Christ to save us and mature us in the Christian faith.
We gain further understanding of why Jesus came, why he took the cross for us, and the importance for his resurrection as we grow in Christ but this takes people to surrender their life to God who will lead you to Jesus Christ.
Jesus says in John 3:14-21 “And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so I the Son of Man, must be lifted up on a pole, so that everyone who believes in me will have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. There is no judgment awaiting those who “trust” him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God. Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay way from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished. But those who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants.”
I say it is always better to come to God now then hell later. Sometimes the truth is hard to hear but we all need to hear it.
No one is perfect. If you for some reason are saying to yourself, "Well I haven't killed anyone or done 'this' or 'that'. I am a good person." Think about what Jesus says, "You have heard that the law of Moses (the 10 commandments) says, 'Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone and idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell." (Matthew 5:21-22) Jesus continues, "Do not commit adultery. But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:27) "You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and unjust, too."
If you for some reason you are thinking you need to get right some how before you come to God- don't because you will never will. Come to God first and he will make you right through Christ Jesus.
If you for some reason you are thinking you are someone how scoring good points by doing "good deeds" and they will some how earn you a place in heaven don't because your good deeds can never out do what Jesus did for us on the cross for all of us.
It sometimes hard to admit wrong. It's hard facing up and humbling yourself before God but I greatly admire someone who humbles themselves before God then continues tries to fool themselves into thinking they right before God or there is no God.
It may even be difficult for some of you, who have had been in the Christian faith, but for some reason turned away. God has been speaking to you for sometime but you have ignored him or felt too ashamed knowing the wrong you have caused him. Come to him and he will bring you back to Christ.
I gave my life to God and then he in turn lead me to Christ. If you are afraid of turning you life over to the wrong God know there is only ONE God and the rest are just idols and false gods. If you are afraid of turning your life to God because of some kind of "control issue" know when you trust God you will find freedom and great potential you never knew you had in yourself.
The great thing about giving our life to Christ is we receive the Holy Spirit, which not only allows us enter the Kingdom of God but gives us new life and new outlook and new insight about life. He, the Holy Spirit transforms us and empowers us to live and grow according to God’s will in the faith, grace and peace of Jesus Christ.
If you would like to talk to me more about this… leave me post.
May God Bless you in the truth that will set you free.
