Lenten Reader | Day 20

Late last fall, I decided that I needed to try ramen – a Japanese noodle dish served in broth. I had learned about it on the Food Network. Then I saw posts about ramen on social media, and I was intrigued. I believed, from the descriptions and testimonials of others, that ramen would be something I would very much enjoy, and I wanted to try it.

So a couple of weeks ago, I went to a ramen specific restaurant to try it for the very first time. And just like I believed I would, I loved it. My personal experience confirmed what I believed.
John tells us that “many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the woman’s testimony” (4:39). The Samaritans that believed only knew what they knew because of what the woman told them. A woman who, because of her lifestyle, did not garner the respect of others. How enthusiastic she must have been that “many believed” because of her experience and the way she shared that experience!

But then – the Samaritans were able to hear Jesus for themselves. They had their own experience. And they “no longer believe just because of what” (the woman) “said, now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

We can be intrigued by the testimonies of others to the point of belief. But when we experience it for ourselves – we taste the much- anticipated ramen for the first time – we are touched by the love, grace, and mercy of our God. We hear God’s word, and it speaks to our heart. As if He knows everything we ever did and loves us still. Then it becomes our own.

May our testimony be so enthusiastic that it can be used by God to draw others to Himself. And may we all seek to hear God’s voice for ourselves.

Amy Glandon