The God Who Satisfies With Mercy and Grace

If there's one profound takeaway from the book, The God Who Satisfies by Chris Anderson, it's that Jesus seeks sinners. He is a friend to and a seeker of sinners. It's what He does. Aren't you just oh so thankful?!

​When Jesus approached the Samaritan woman, He didn't need to ask about her need. He already knew. He knew because He is God. He was already seeking her because He is Grace. He knew her need and still He sought her out. Just like He does us!

"Jesus loves broken people. He came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). He came into the world to save filthy sinners like us (I Timothy 1:15), and by saving the very worst of us He shows His ability to save any of us (I Timothy 1:16). That's the lesson we learn from the woman at the well, the object of Christ's affection and a trophy of His power to save." —Chris Anderson

I love this passage in Luke 15:2, "And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, 'This man receives sinners and eats with them.'" The Pharisees and scribes were accusing Jesus of mingling with sinners, but isn't it the truth? And it's it lovely! He not only receives them, He seeks them out! I for one am so thankful!

In Luke 7:34 He is called a friend of tax collectors and sinners. And yes, we too can call Him friend. He comes seeking us offering mercy and grace, two things we so desperately need!

"Jesus has an infinite supply of grace, and He heaps it upon undeserving sinners like us." ​—Chris Anderson, The God Who Satisfies

Mercy and grace are two of the most important factors of salvation. Certainly, we can say that without them salvation would be impossible.  Sometimes the two seem to intertwine. So what is mercy, and what is grace?

Mercy

Mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.

Grace

Grace ​is the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.

"No soul is too small for His mercy. No sin is too great for His grace." -Chris Anderson, The God Who Satisfies

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I love this book as it speaks to both mercy and grace. I found myself especially drawn to it because of its focus on the Samaritan woman. I AM the Samaritan woman! Maybe you feel like you are too. Whether you do or not, you'll find The God Who Satisfies enlightening, uplifting, and encouraging. And you know, we're all about encouragement around here!

"God is seeking worshipers. But He doesn’t find them. He makes them! From what? From Samaritan women like us. And He does so through the life-changing power of the gospel! ​"- Chris Anderson, The God Who Satisfies

Something I find interesting is that Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman in John 4 is recorded immediately following His interaction with Nicodemus in John 3. The contrast could not be more striking!

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Comparison between Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman:

• He is a Jew
• He is a man
• He is a respected teacher
• He is educated
• He is wealthy
• He is famous
• He is outwardly righteous

• She is a Samaritan
• She is a woman
• She is an outcast
• She is ignorant
• She is impoverished
• She is infamous
• She is outright rebellious

But still Jesus treats these two exactly the same. They both need Him equally even though they are both so very different. Jesus looks past gender, race, religion and social standing, and what does He see? He sees two, needy sinners, one just as lost as the other.

One thing I find fascinating about the story of the Samaritan woman, or as we often refer to her—the woman at the well, is that Jacob had that well dug over 2000 years earlier! God knew when Jacob had that well dug that someday there would be an encounter between a Samaritan woman, who was so very needy, and a Savior who knew and could meet every one of her needs.

Two of my favorite prints over at our little Etsy shop are these Zacchaeus and Samaritan woman prints. They compliment each other nicely, and share a similar message. God knows! Long before your need, He knows. What a comforting thought!

"Till men and women are brought to feel their sinfulness and need, no real good is ever done to their souls. Till a sinner sees himself as God sees him, he will continue carless, trifling, and unmoved. By all means we must labour to convince the unconverted man of sin, to prick his conscious, to open his eyes, to show him himself. To this end we must expound the length and breadth of God's holy law. To this end we must denounce every practice contrary to that law, however fashionable and customary. This is the only way to do good. Never does a soul value the Gospel medicine until it feels its disease. Never does a man see any beauty in Christ as a Saviour, until he discovers that he is himself a lost and ruined sinner." —J. C. Ryle

Nicodemus, Zacchaeus, the Samaritan woman, me, you, we are all needy people in need of a Savior. The Savior comes seeking with mercy and grace. He provides Living Water. Living Water different from the water found in Jacob's well. Those who drink of the water from Jacob's well will thirst again. But those who drink of the Living Water, that Jesus provides, will never thirst again. He truly is The God Who Satisfies.

"But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14

If you are as fascinated by the story of the Samaritan woman as I am—this woman at the well seeking mercy and grace, this woman being sought by Mercy and Grace, grab a copy of The God Who Satisfies today.

How does the story of the Samaritan woman speak to you?