Why Am I a Christian? (John 4)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

Why is Ezra Byer a Christian?

For almost all of this devotional series, I’ve avoided writing about myself in the first person, but I thought it might be helpful to pause for one day and share why I am a follower of Christ.

If you were to ask me why I am a Christian, there are quite a few responses I could offer. I could go all technical and say I believe in God because of the teleological argument and the incredible design we see in this universe. After all, doesn’t design point to a designer? Or I could highlight the cosmological argument and how the order in the cosmos points to Christ. But then I’d sound smarter than I am. If you were keen on a more extended conversation, we could talk about the ontological argument, but it’s too confusing for me to understand, let alone explain. And then there is the moral argument, one of my favorites, that says there is an innate human need for moral justice.

All of these points are useful. But if I were to shoot straight and give you the real reason Ezra Byer is a follower of Jesus, I would point you to the Gospel of John, chapter 4, and the story of Jesus and a woman from Samaria. If you’re unfamiliar with this story, it’s worth noting there were three major reasons this encounter should have never taken place. The first was because of this woman’s cultural background. Jewish people hated Samaritans, and few Jews would have made the decision Jesus made to pass through Samaria to meet her.

The second major challenge was gender. In an era where a woman’s testimony would not hold up in court, women were viewed as inferior. Nearly two millenniums before the suffragette movement, women held virtually no societal rights or privileges. And the third was her moral baggage. This woman had been married five times. And while John doesn’t tell us why she was married five times, it’s safe to assume from the context of this story that people of her culture held her at a distance.

Still, despite these societal objections, Jesus went to where she was. And the encounter changed this woman’s life. After meeting Jesus, she went into the town and said these compelling words, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did.”^[1]

In other words, “I found someone who knows me!”

A Meditation to PRAY

Praise | Lord, I praise you for the living water you offer through Jesus Christ. Your encounter with the Samaritan woman shows your love and acceptance for all people. Thank you for the truth that worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.

Release | I release my past sins and the shame that binds me, just as you freed the Samaritan woman. Help me to let go of any prejudices or barriers that separate me from others. I let go of any doubt that your grace is sufficient for me.

Ask | I ask for the living water only you can provide to quench my spiritual thirst. Give me the courage to share your message of salvation with others. Please fill me with a heart of worship that seeks you earnestly.

Yield | I yield my life to be a true worshiper in spirit and in truth. May my actions reflect the transformation that comes from knowing you. I surrender my will to your perfect plan, trusting in your provision and guidance.

A Challenge to Act Like Christ