John 4:22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
The issue with everyone we meet is salvation, not what denomination they belong to or what eschatology they espouse or their ethnicity. Jesus’ reference to salvation being from the Jews is the same as saying that the Messiah or Savior is from the Jews. Simeon in Luke 2:29-30, John the Baptist in Luke 3:6 both used the term salvation to refer to Jesus as the Savior and Messiah. When Simeon saw Jesus, he declared, “For my eyes have seen Your salvation.” In effect, He made it clear that what they believed was wrong and that the Jews were right. Since the Savior comes from Israel, then the Jews were worshiping according to the truth. Putting that debate to rest, Jesus got to the ultimate need of this woman. She needed salvation from her sins and ignorance about the savior. Salvation can only come by the knowledge of God, revealed in Jesus Christ through the work of the Spirit of God.
May we be encouraged today to remember that is every person’s need. If God puts them in our path, then we know they need to be saved if they are not already. We know the one we worship, Jesus Christ, is the Savior, and if they do not worship Jesus, then they need to know Him. The first thing we can do to show them that Jesus lives is to love them with Him by caring for them, being kind, and praying for them. I’ve learned to engage them by asking about them, listening to see how the Lord has them respond, then respond to them with what the Holy Spirit gives me. I’m learning to trust that He’s already ahead of me, knows them perfectly, and will give me what they need for that moment.
We worship what we know if we are born again. We have His life dwelling within us, and know that He is not only our Savior, but the well-spring of eternal life. We have the Son, so we know we have the life of God. May we live out of His fullness today and be ready to love those He puts in our paths, for His glory.
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.
