Bible Reading: 2 Kings 22,23; John 4:28-54
“The woman then left her water pot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come see a man which told me all things that I ever did: is not this the Christ?” John 4:28-29 (KJV)
An encounter is what many need today. Encounter with God last for a life time. It changes you and the way you see things for the rest of your life. It makes you more aware of yourself in God. An encounter is an experience with God in which there is a supernatural manifestation of God’s presence in your life. It is often marked by some kind of physical sense of the presence of God.
But only God Himself choses whom He manifest Himself to. Men are only privileged to experience this manifestation. It could happen to anybody, depending on God’s plan and purpose. In the bible reading of today, Jesus revealed Himself to a woman whom many must have written off because of her lifestyle. Never you write off anybody; you are not their God, neither do you know the plan of God for their lives. The Samaritan woman, one can infer, lives a lonely life because of her situation of many husbands in past, as women in those days tend to go to the well in groups. But was favoured by God to spread the good news of Jesus being in town. She quickly ran to the city and gathered the men to meet with Jesus.
Gideon was another man who encountered God and from a fainthearted person was pronounced and became a mighty man of valor by an encounter with an angel of God. Before then he was afraid of the Midianites who oppressed the people of God. By this encounter with God, Gideon led a very small size of men in terms of number, with God in their midst, to defeat a very large opposition army (Judges 7-8).
Moses, too, encountered God and saved millions of lives. Before he first met God in the burning bush experience, he was a fugitive running away from the land of his birth. But when he met God he changed! The same Moses now came face to face with Pharaoh and give him orders from God. Paul the apostle, encountered God and his life changed. The same people he used to kill were now the people he now became closest to. The Jesus he killed and arrested people for was now the Jesus he defended with his life.
One sure thing about encounter is that it not only changes you but changes people around you. The Samaritan woman caused a change in Samaria when she encountered Jesus and brought the men of the city to Him. Gideon saved millions from the hand of oppressors. Moses delivered millions from slavery and Paul’s encounter still blesses many today through the revelations given to him by Jesus. God wants to do something in the world through you. Ask for an encounter today.
Prayer: Father, I thank You for the grace for an encounter with You.