"If You Knew...."

"If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is Who says to you...."  (John 4:10a)

"If you knew...."  This is at the same time glorious news and sad news, glorious news to those who, "hunger and thirst for righteousness," and sad news for those who don't.

Jesus then told her so that she could know.  "The gift of God," was speaking to her, though, as most throughout history, she did not know it.  This is the One Who comes to humanity as, "the carpenter's son," not as some royal prince, some king and potentate riding on a magnificent white horse; that's coming later.  Instead, "the Mighty God,..the Prince of Peace," chose to come as, "the carpenter's son," looking as a, "carpenter's son," moving about as a, "carpenter's son."  He was the oldest of a relatively large family and who grew up in Nazareth, "Can any good come out of Nazareth."  Well, yes.  I submit to you today that there is a very real sense in which our Lord Jesus Christ still "walks" midst the world as, "the carpenter's son."  Don't miss Him.  

Early in the chapter we read that, "Jesus...sat by the well."  Caution:  That "secret   place" just might be, "....by the well."  So I ask today, Do you know, "the gift of God, and Who it is Who says to you?"  One who does should never be insulted if asked such a question.  This should be a daily "relational check."  How am I doing walking in Jesus Christ today?  Am I running today's race, "looking unto Jesus," and not my religious activity, no matter how "spiritual"?  No "means of grace" can replace Grace Himself. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to see a "secret place" where I may not have before.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2