Do you hide behind "Religion"?
I know I used to, and I still have to catch myself when I throw up my religious defenses.
I grew up in church and in the bible belt so my entire life I've learned alot of truths, a bunch of theology and if you asked me most any question I could spit back a "religious argument."
In John 4 Christ approaches the Woman at the Well. (Oh there's so much good stuff in this story and this passage has been brought to mind so much lately I am sure that we will get into it more later.)
What I find most interesting, today, about this story is Christ came before a broken, messed up, used up woman, telling her things about herself only she could know - you know like when the Holy Spirit is deeply convicting you.
What I find most interesting, today, about this story is Christ came before a broken, messed up, used up woman, telling her things about herself only she could know - you know like when the Holy Spirit is deeply convicting you.
Can you imagine?- well, for the sake of argument, put your defenses down for a second, put yourself in the place of the Woman at the Well. You're face to face with Christ. Who knows you deeper than you know yourself. What do you see?
....Take a Moment...
....Take a Moment...
...If you put your guard down- Woo, scary right?!?! What does He say to you?
I see Him as a loving father lifting the chin of His child, looking at the child with a deep, deep love and being broken over where that child has been. Broken over the choices that child has made, broken over the burdens that child is carrying on their own shoulders. When Christ has clearly laid out the Best Life before you.
He's been broken so that HE can carry that burden but the child keeps struggling to do it on their own.
He died for you so that you can know Him and be shown how to live abundantly TODAY. However, you can't quit trusting the voices around you. The voices telling you: "You can't live up to His standards."
(Friend, He doesn't want you to. The Life He calls you to live is a life in Him. When you pursue Him, He sluffs off the junk.)
The Voices telling you all the things of the world that you should chase, things that are calling your attention away from Him.
Maybe that's not what you see, but it's what I've seen.
When Christ approached the "Samaritan Woman at the Well" John 4 and was feeding her with the TRUTH as soon as she said "OUCH", because His words spoke deep, she pulled up her religious defenses.
vs. 19-20
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
She pulled out her theological arguments! Have you done that? I know I have. Have you ever arrogantly thought you knew all there is to know about the Bible and God and were so busy bouncing back and forth theological debates that you completely ignored the voice of Christ working to penetrate the deepest areas of your soul? -in the words of my daughter -"That's Me!" I have! Guilty right here, for years.
It's a quick safety net or defense. Wanna hear what Christ said in response? Cracks me up.
vs.21
“Woman,” Jesus replied, “Believe Me", a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
Can you imagine. How funny is that. You're about to argue theology with the Creator. Haha! Jesus said, "WOMAN, BELIEVE ME."
You're trusting in your arguments made up by religious people. They mean nothing!
Follow ME! "I! The ONE you are arguing over is standing in front of you and you're going to try and argue with Me about- ME?!?!
John 10:26-28
but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Do you know your Masters voice? You can.
Deuteronomy 4:29-31(ESV)
But if from there you
seek the LORD your God, you will find Him
if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you,
then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey Him. For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you...
I challenge you today to throw down your "knowledge". Seek Christ and He will teach you all the things you need to know!
Don't Forget
Enter the Beautiful GiveAway!
He's been broken so that HE can carry that burden but the child keeps struggling to do it on their own.
He died for you so that you can know Him and be shown how to live abundantly TODAY. However, you can't quit trusting the voices around you. The voices telling you: "You can't live up to His standards."
(Friend, He doesn't want you to. The Life He calls you to live is a life in Him. When you pursue Him, He sluffs off the junk.)
The Voices telling you all the things of the world that you should chase, things that are calling your attention away from Him.
Maybe that's not what you see, but it's what I've seen.
When Christ approached the "Samaritan Woman at the Well" John 4 and was feeding her with the TRUTH as soon as she said "OUCH", because His words spoke deep, she pulled up her religious defenses.
vs. 19-20
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
She pulled out her theological arguments! Have you done that? I know I have. Have you ever arrogantly thought you knew all there is to know about the Bible and God and were so busy bouncing back and forth theological debates that you completely ignored the voice of Christ working to penetrate the deepest areas of your soul? -in the words of my daughter -"That's Me!" I have! Guilty right here, for years.
It's a quick safety net or defense. Wanna hear what Christ said in response? Cracks me up.
vs.21
“Woman,” Jesus replied, “Believe Me", a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
Can you imagine. How funny is that. You're about to argue theology with the Creator. Haha! Jesus said, "WOMAN, BELIEVE ME."
You're trusting in your arguments made up by religious people. They mean nothing!
Follow ME! "I! The ONE you are arguing over is standing in front of you and you're going to try and argue with Me about- ME?!?!
John 10:26-28
but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Do you know your Masters voice? You can.
Deuteronomy 4:29-31(ESV)
But if from there you
seek the LORD your God, you will find Him
if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you,
then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and obey Him. For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you...
I challenge you today to throw down your "knowledge". Seek Christ and He will teach you all the things you need to know!
Don't Forget
Enter the Beautiful GiveAway!
Aaron Keyes - Not Guilty Anymore
Let go of what I think I know and seek Him, the One who knows it all. Great encouragement, Melissa!
ReplyDeleteThis is great Melissa! Throw down your knowledge and seek Him! Amen!
ReplyDeleteSo convicting! It's easy to take comfort in what we think we know rather than really listen to what God is trying to say, especially if it's going to take us somewhere we're afraid to go or make us confront something less than delightful in ourselves.
ReplyDeleteSo true, it's very easy to take on what others believe. I remember this from when I first became a Christian. The bible says to test everything against the Word... I want to stand in Truth and Believe in Him alone! Great encouragement Melissa!
ReplyDeleteI have often been guilty of throwing out my religious arguments when I just need to seek the Teacher.
ReplyDeleteVery encouraging post. Thank you for linking with the Grace Cafe today.
Blessings,
Joan
Oh my goodness Amy, Heidi and Joan So perfectly said! Yes!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenifer and Lisa. I hate that I spent so long hiding behind religious knowledge instead of listening to the Voice of Truth!