March 25
“Many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, ‘He told me all that I ever did.’ So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world,’” John 4:39-42.
The Lord Jesus had left Judea and was on His way to Galilee. He passed through Samaria, something that the Jews normally avoided doing. Jesus stopped at Jacob’s well in Sychar, where a Samaritan woman came to draw water. Jesus asked her to draw a drink of water for Him, which led to an unusual conversation. As a result of that conversation, she ran into town to ask the people, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” John 4:29. As a result of her witness, many Samaritans believed in Jesus as the promised Savior. Many more Samaritans came out to see and hear Jesus. They begged Jesus to stay, which He did for two more days, and many more Samaritans believed in Jesus as the promised Christ and the Savior of the world.
The power to bring people to trust in Jesus as God’s Son and the only Savior is in the Word of God. The Word of God leads people to true sorrow for sin, and complete trust in Jesus, who suffered on Calvary’s cross to take away our sins. As Christians, we must remember that people are brought into the family of God by the power of the Word, through which the Holy Spirit converts sinners. Sinners who are running away from God, as Adam and Eve did after they had sinned, are called to repentance and faith through the Word of the Gospel.
The Gospel is the Good News of God’s love which was fulfilled for us. In the Gospel, God calls to sinners, “Quit running! I love you! Turn around and behold the smiling face of the forgiving heavenly Father!”
Church members often have the wrong idea of how to bring people into the Christian Church. They think that it is accomplished through parties and picnics, banquets and bazaars, bingo, brats, and bake sales and rummage sales. The story is told of a woman who complained to Horace Greeley that their church was struggling financially to exist. She said that they had tried all the various fundraising projects and they still could not make ends meet! Greeley responded briefly, “Please, try religion!”
How is the Church built? The Lord answers, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts,” Zechariah 4:6. Let us continue to teach, preach, and witness with the Word, which will bring people to faith in Jesus as the Son of God and the only Savior, and the Head of the Church.
Abide, O dear Redeemer, Among us with Thy Word;
And thus now and hereafter, True peace and joy afford.
Abide, O faithful Savior, Among us with Thy love;
Grant steadfastness and help us, To reach our home above. Amen.