Experience

John 4: 39-42

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.

They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

My 15-year-old daughter now has her learner’s permit.  She has been riding with me since the trip home from the hospital when she was about 26 hours old.  She’s seen me and others drive many miles, in two countries and who knows how many states under all kinds of weather and traffic conditions day and night at varying levels of legality (I have been guilty of speeding at times, and probably tailgating once or twice).  I have talked way more than she has listened on the proper ways to drive and all the things that go with that (rolling stops vs. REAL stops, look in the blind spots before changing lanes, you have to look in your mirrors, you don’t need to change the radio right now, etc.). 

She is doing a great job as a novice driver, and I’m proud of her, but the more time I spend as her designated rider, the more I see her learn things for herself.  It’s OK for the wheel to return to straight by itself.  Brakes can be pushed lightly, coasting to slow down works and so on.  I have realized that no matter how much I tell her or show her, she has to learn some things herself. 

In our scripture today, the woman told her friends, but they had to hear for themselves.  They had to have the personal experience, and all the words and examples of others pales in comparison.  Same for Haley.  She is going to be a great driver.  She already knows what muscle cars are.

I close with our last “Don’t” from John 4:  Don’t just trust others when you can experience God your self.  Are you trying daily to add to your experiences with God?

Sharing

John 4:28-30

Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”  They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

I have a best friend who was with me during some very difficult times in my life.  Dennis was the youth director who first gave me a chance to work with youth, to lead others, and to write and teach.  He’s only a couple of years older than I am and I was one of the first calls on January 14^th 1984 when his first daughter was born.  I watched the last M*A*S*H episode at his house.  His two year old daughter used to ride to lunch with me after church on Sundays (making some of the youth sit in the back!)  In 1988, he moved from Houston to the Dallas area and our time together was reduced.  Our friendship was not.  I discovered recently that his position is being eliminated and he will be seeking a new job for what is probably the first time since he was in college.  I went through something similar about five years ago and spent six months looking for a job and asking God why He was allowing this.  I came out with a great job, a solid respect for God’s hand on my family and me, and the knowledge that I don’t have to understand everything God does or allows to happen.  How is this related to our scripture?  Our “daily don’t” today is “Don’t be afraid to share what you have experienced.”  The woman in our story told her friends about Jesus.  I  plan to ask God to use me when I call Dennis and share my experiences. 

God allows us to experience things to help the body of believers, and our role is to share.   It can be evangelism like in our verses or to meet a difference need we see.  Do you have an opportunity to share your experiences and help another? 

Spin

John 4:

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”

“I have no husband,” she replied.

Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

Definition #11 on dictionary.com for the word “spin” is:  Spin - Slang . to cause to have a particular bias; influence in a certain direction: His assignment was to spin the reporters after the president's speech. 

I think of spin when politicians on all sides try to use the same information to make opposing points.  I think of the press and PR firms trying to explain why the superstar athlete role model was arrested for everything from DUI to weapons and assault charges and more.  I thought this was something our generation had developed, but our scripture today shows it has existed since Jesus’ day. 

The woman at the well was honest with Jesus.  He asked a question and she answered it.  Partly.  She tried to spin her sinful situation into the most neutral to positive light possible without being untruthful.  And Jesus saw right through her.  He knew her.  He loved her.  He wanted her to open up and be completely honest with Him and with herself. 

I know I spin things; especially the things about me that I don’t like so much.  I talk about my parents, but not about Dad’s alcoholism.  I talk about changing jobs, but not about being asked to leave.  I talk about the challenges my son faces, but I don’t tell the whole story.

Spin’s not always bad – there are things that should be private to protect others and things that are long forgiven.  Not everyone can be trusted with what could be painful memories.  But sometimes spin is bad.  We can’t spin God.  Even if we think we can hide things or leave things out when we talk to Him, He knows.  Jesus sees right through me.  He knows me.  He loves me.  He wants me to open up and be completely honest with Him and with myself.

That leaves us with our “Don’t” for the day:  Don’t try and spin God!

Nao Entende (I don’t understand)

John 4:

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”

Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”

When we lived in Brazil, one of the first phrases I learned was “Nao entende”.  It means “I don’t understand”.  I used it a lot. 

I don’t know about you, but there are a lot of things that I don’t understand.  I don’t understand some small things (Why is there not always Bluebell^® Ice Cream in my freezer?  Why does the other line always move faster?).  I don’t understand some technical things (How does the Wii know where the controller is and what it’s doing?  How does it know that I don’t like to lose?)  I don’t understand some silly things (How can two cats eat so little and need so much litter?  Why do rabbits lick your head?)  I don’t understand some spiritual things (How can Jesus love me enough to die for me?  Why does there have to be such an evil nature in humans?)  And most recently some philosophical things?  (Why do people have to learn so many things the hard way?  Why do bad things happen?  What’s the future going to bring now?)

I’ve come to realize that just because I don’t understand doesn’t mean that things are not happening exactly like God wants them to.  In our scripture today, there are three examples of people being puzzled at what Jesus was doing, and that’s our “Don’t” for today:  Don’t expect to understand all that God is doing with you and around you.