Over the years I’ve worked with many different people and I have always been amazed that even when you think you know someone well there are still surprises. Sometimes quite big ones too. The truth is that the way we live life means that we all have secrets, things we don’t share with each other. Some secrets are born out of need (we protect ourselves by not sharing everything with others), some are born out of shame (we don’t want others to think less of us because of what we’ve done) and some because we have something to gain by keeping quiet. You should note that this isn’t an exhaustive list but is simply designed to indicate that we never really know a person as well as we think we do even when we share life with them.
When Jesus walked into this Samaritan village there was no indication that He’d been there before or that He knew anyone there. So it’s beyond comprehension that He should be able to have the conversation with this woman in the way that He did or revealing the things that He did. As she later told the rest of the community, “Come, see a man who told me everything I’ve ever done. Could this be the Messiah?” (v.29). Jesus knew more intimately than she could have imagined.
A moment for life application – if He knew that woman so intimately how well does He know you or me? How much of ourselves are we prepared to reveal to Him? How should that affect the way we read the Bible or the way we pray or worship? The truth is that there are no secrets between us and Jesus – He knows each of us and despite everything He knows He still cared enough about us to give up His life on the cross so that we could be forgiven for our sins and our secrets.
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Question:
How much of yourself are you prepared to reveal to Him? How should that affect the way you read the Bible or the way you pray or worship?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I pray that nothing in me would be hidden from You. I pray that all things would be held in Your glorious light that I might be filled to overflowing with Your Holy Spirit. I ask in Your name. Amen.