Daily Devotionals for Women - Today's Encouraging Word from Scripture

HOW A TRUTH IS REVEALED

Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. John 8:58-59

If the intensity of a conversation could be graphed, this announcement from Jesus would be at the peak. Tempers flared as the Pharisees heard His proclamation of deity. Jesus was not calling Himself a mere prophet, or even just the Messiah, but God Himself.

This truth was not revealed at the beginning of this scene. There were other conversations. Jesus was intuitive and knew how to engage them to build toward this certain key point. When He reached the climax and stated that He was God, unfortunately there was disbelief instead of saving faith.

This gradual revelation occurred with the Samaritan woman as well. There was an admission of thirst, discussion about Jews and Samaritans, talk about the existence of living water, and then a comment was made about the Messiah coming and revealing all things. Instantly, the graph spiked as Jesus spoke, “I am He!” But with her, there was a different outcome. She believed and was saved.

It is also my experience that when I seek God deeply about a certain matter, the answer does not come instantly. It happens over time. The Spirit intuitively leads me down a path of new discoveries that lay a foundation for the truth to follow. It may take several days, even months, before the graph will spike.

Ever go away on a spiritual retreat to hear God on a critical matter? I have. I may press in on the first day for the breakthrough, only to embrace more questions as the time unfolds. Confusion seems to build before the truth comes. I may even feel desperate and wonder if I am on the wrong path. But then the graph spikes. Truth falls like a sword and I have the opportunity for saving faith.

We are in many conversations and I long for the truth to fall. Amen.

For more from Christine Wyrtzen and Jaime Wyrtzen Lauze, please visit www.daughtersofpromise.org