16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
The LORD Jesus is having a dialogue with the Samaritan woman. Thus far, He has asked her for a drink and she has become somewhat contentious, asking why He, a Jew, would have anything to do with her, a Samaritan - to say nothing of the social barriers that were in place between men and women.
He then mentions this "living water" that He offers to those who ask Him (vs. 10), to those who recognize Him for Who He is. She is still thinking in the natural however, considering the advantages of such water that would enable her to never "thirst again", but nevertheless is soliciting this from the LORD (vs. 15).
It is here that He beckons her to go and get her husband. Note that: the LORD is interested not only in this woman's salvation, but also that of her supposed husband. That is the heart of the LORD. The salvation of souls, as well as the redemption of entire families as each member places faith in Christ for themselves (ACTS 16:31), an institution that He Himself created (GEN 1:22) - and this institution is being dismantled today in the politically correct methods of perverting this sacred entity into forms that are both confusing and counter-productive if not to human proclivities, then to God's plans.
The woman then replies, indicating that she has no husband - and she isn't lying! As the LORD Himself reveals, she has had FIVE husbands, and has apparently given up trying to find the perfect man to marry, and is instead 'shacking up'.
Again, this is the way of our modern society as well. For whatever reasons, more are living together, and by the biblical standard, committing fornication.
Sex is not dirty - it was created by God for man and woman, not only to instill a matrimonial union through intimacy, genuine love, caring and commitment to one another, but from that blessed union, create a family. Sex is not an amusement to be proliferated freely with just anyone, but with one and only that a person vows to remain committed to for life. This vow is ably fulfilled but only by those who possess the Spirit of God Who alone can enable us to fulfill it according to His approval. But I digress . . .
Jesus knows her, knows all about her and her entire life, from birth to death and beyond (JER 1:5). This is the focus then of today's devotional instruction.
We as saints, true born again believers in Christ by grace and faith may on the one hand take profound comfort in this truth. At the same time, this truth should instill in us a sense of humility and reverence.
We derive comfort in knowing that no matter what trials, struggles, heart-ache, depression, loneliness, injustices, what have you - Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith knows all about it. In fact, long before we ever encounter these difficulties, long before God even created all things, He knew of every circumstance and situation we would ever face: and in His grace, mercy and almighty power and wisdom, provided an answer to these dilemmas. All He asks is that we trust Him, wait upon Him, and receive - in His time (whether that time is here on Earth or in eternity) - the answers.
We have comfort in knowing that the Almighty is All-loving towards His children (JOHN 1:12) and wholly trustworthy. Because of His Almighty power, we have confidence that He is able to do ALL things for us; because of His nature of love and holiness we know He has the purest and best motivation in His provisions for us, to the glory of God.
We should also have a deep sense of humility and reverence for the LORD because of His omniscience ("all-knowing") ability. He knows not only what we say and do, but what we think, perceiving even more deeply than we ourselves are able, the deepest intents, inclinations and motivations of our hearts. Consider Peter's denial that he knew the LORD, even when he vehemently denied beforehand that he would ever do such a thing!
He did deny the LORD, and Jesus knew he would (MATT 26:34-35).
He knows all that we do in ministry to the LORD, His church and this lost world. He knows our works (REV 2:2,9,13,19; 3:1,8,15) and will reward faithfulness (not necessarily success; see MATT 25:21,23) in such service that is according to His will and plan for our lives (JOHN 15:1-10).
We ought to examine ourselves (2 COR 13:5) and seek the LORD on issues of our hearts (HOS 10:12), allowing His holy light to shine into the deepest recesses (HEB 4:12; 2 COR 4:5-6); and reveal that which brings offense to His Holy and tender heart, and implore Him to purge us of these things (2 TIM 2:21).
Jesus knows what we do in the dark, when no one is watching. The enemy whispers in our minds, "No one will ever know . . . "
And of course that is a bold faced lie - God knows and sees all! Even if no one else knows, the One Who is the MOST IMPORTANT will know, and this should inspire in us a kind of holy dread and fear of God (ISAIAH 66:2) as well as for the deplorable sinful nature of our fallen state (ROM 7:18).
I think it was John Wesley that said, "Give me 100 men that fear naught but God and sin, and I will overturn England!"
The lost souls of this world should rightly fear God in the deepest sense for His absolute and undeniable knowledge of all that they say, do and think. Unlike the saint of God, they have no refuge in which to hide from the judgment of God, but must face the Holy Law of God and be utterly condemned by it - no matter how moral or religious or righteous (in their own eyes or in the estimation of others) they may be.
A friend of mine told me he was sharing the Gospel with a stranger he met at a coffee shop and when he pointed out the demands of God's Law for sinless perfection, he asked what he would do once he faces God on Judgment Day. This stranger replied, "Oh, I'll just lie to Him."
Utterly blind!
There is only one refuge, one source of salvation, one means of a safe retreat from the incontestable, incontrovertible Judgment of God and that is the atonement for our sins through the act of grace by the LORD Jesus Christ on Calvary (ROM 5:1-16), Who bore not only all of humanities sins, but also God's Holy Wrath upon those sins (ROM 8:2-3)!! He willingly offered Himself (JOHN 10:17-18; PHIL 2:6-8) on our behalf, to suffer and die for our sins (which rightly would render to us eternal death and separation from the ONLY Life Source in all creation - God Himself). Yet not only did He pay the price for our sins, He then offers to us ETERNAL LIFE by His Spirit of Life. Our Blessed Redeemer!
By this paramountly priceless act, through His precious blood, He delivers to us this deliverance from sin, death and hell, transforming us from condemned sinners into consecrated saints!
Are you saved or not? Jesus knows.
For those of you who are not yet saved, answer this call to repentance, for today is the day of salvation for you (2 COR 6:2)!
For those of us who are already saved, remember that in the very steps and course of your lives: all the blessings and burdens, from the heights of joy to the depths of sorrow, and every experience in between, Jesus knows!
Let us trust ourselves to and rest in the everlasting arms, and in those nail-pierced hands that created the universe with such omnipotent power and yet handles us with the tenderest of gentleness.
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