John 4:19-20 The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship."
Jesus had just said to her, "Go, call your husband and come here.” The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have correctly said, 'I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.”
Have you ever been in such a conversation with God? Perhaps you were reading a passage of Scripture and became convicted, but instead of responding to God, you read on, or you turned to another more encouraging passage. You knew if you really dealt with the truth, what God sees about you, then you knew you would have to change—but you didn’t want to change.
If so, then you understand the awkwardness of this moment between Jesus and the woman at the well. Both are asking, “Where do I go from here?” The woman didn’t want to discuss her past with its shame, and who can blame her? So she moved the spotlight to Jesus and where God is to be worshiped.
We are encouraged by these verses not to be like this woman as we live to love with Jesus. God is going to deal with our past. Because He loves us, He is committed to sanctifying us. There were times in our past when we didn’t know God or trust in Him. Therefore, we didn’t receive the grace needed to handle the situation, resulting in our carrying the baggage and shame of our unbelief. More than likely when similar events occur, we are triggered by them. They remind us of previous hurts, disappointments, and failures. Jesus must sanctify those events in our lives for our lives to bring Him glory. He must take us where we don’t want to go. He must reveal our unbelief and bring us to the point where we can see who He is and how we should have worshiped Him in those moments. When we face the truth that we didn’t know Him, trust Him, or go to Him for grace, then we are set free from the baggage, are healed, and can see how God can use it for His glory and our good. We are able to help others, which is what living to love with Jesus is all about.
So the next time you find yourself in a convicting conversation with Jesus or facing an uncomfortable truth about yourself, don’t change the subject, but let the truth search you and sanctify you for His glory and your good.
I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.
