Dear Explorer,
Re-read John 4:19-26
My Papa White (my great grandfather) was born on August 8, 1880. By the time I was born, the 8th of August had become the standard date for the White Family Reunion. No one called it “Papa's birthday”, they just called it “The 8th of August” sorta' like people would say “The 4th of July”. I remember being in elementary school and was so shocked to learn that my friends didn't share that holiday! I incredulously questioned, “You mean you don't have an 8th of August?!!!” To which one friend disdainfully replied, “Yes, Stupid, we have an 8th of August – we just don't celebrate it the way you do!” What strange people!!!!!!
You see, sometimes we get caught up in traditions that keep us from seeing truth. Like little children we quarrel and fuss about how to worship or which way is right or wrong. Jesus just set those things aside and went on to focus on the truth that she needed so desperately to hear.
In this passage, Jesus shows that regardless of your past religious beliefs or practices, all may come to God who seek Him in Spirit and in truth.
Read John 4:27-34
John 4:31-34 remind me that I won't always understand what God is up to. Sometimes I'm headed one direction, and everything feels so right and bam! The door closes and slams tightly shut. These disciples had hiked several miles to the nearest McDonald's and hurried back so the fries wouldn't get cold – but Jesus has something else on His mind. If we are going to follow Jesus, then we've got to be careful that we don't just start assuming that we know what God wants. The disciples were hungry and wanted lunch and they assumed that Jesus wanted the same thing. So away they went, intent on pleasing Him. How surprised we are when our assumptions turn out to not be true.
Why are we so often surprised? I think we forget that He is King of the Universe and Lord over all Creation. His thoughts and plans are so much greater and higher than ours. We won't always understand His plans. But we can trust that He is love and truth and knows what is best for us. He is the One in charge and nothing surprises Him. Our job is obedience. That reminds me of an old, old hymn called “Trust and Obey.” One line says, “Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!”.
In His service, dale
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