From: May 5, 2024
“Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” (John 4:29 ESV).
The Samaritan woman that Jesus met at Jacob’s well was ready to share Jesus with others after only one encounter. Jesus had given her the clearest statement concerning His identity that He had given anyone, simply saying, “I who speak to you am he.” The woman ran back to her village, leaving her water jar behind, telling every neighbor and friend to “Come and see!”
In reading this account, I didn’t notice an evangelism class, nor any gospel tracts given out. Certainly, these are good things, but the Samaritan woman didn’t have them. She was just passionately excited about having met Jesus and couldn’t wait to tell others her testimony. She became Christ’s herald to her entire village, announcing His arrival and identity to everyone.
The woman at the well simply bore witness of what Christ had done for her. And what was the result of her simple approach? “Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus” because of the woman’s testimony (John 4:39).
PRAYER: Dear Father, strengthen us to go and tell others to come and see what Jesus has done in our lives and is doing in the lives of others. Forgive us for making it too complicated. Give us your holy urgency to always be talking about Jesus. In His name we pray, amen.
From: May 5, 2023
‘Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work”‘ (John 4:34 NLT).
When the disciples returned from the town of Sychar with food for lunch, they found Jesus at Jacob’s well speaking with a Samaritan woman. They encouraged Jesus to eat something, but He answered that He had food of a kind they knew nothing about. When they didn’t understand what He meant, He explained that doing the will of God was His nourishment.
Certainly, physical food is needed for the physical body to live. Jesus was not denying that. However, He was teaching His disciples a deeper truth, namely that God has a purpose for our lives. Our eating and drinking are necessary, but secondary to the purpose of our souls, which is to do that for which we were created. All other purposes become secondary to the purpose of doing God’s will for our lives.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we have many needs and you meet the all through Christ Jesus. Yet, we often neglect our deepest need, which is to do Your will. We surrender our lives to You afresh today to do Your will. May Your kingdom come today in our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 5, 2016
Ironically, in Bethlehem, the “House of Bread,” there was a famine. And rather than staying in the land that God had provided, Elimelech took his wife Naomi and two sons to “sojourn” in Moab. Like many best laid plans their “sojourn” turned into 10 long, hard years and ended in the death of all three men. After this, Naomi heard that the Lord had “visited” his people with bread, so she decided to return home. She was determined to get out of Moab and get back to God’s land of promise. Even her widowed, daughter-in-law, Ruth, was determined to go with her. Though Ruth was a Moabite, she desired a better estate, and by faith followed Naomi to Bethlehem.
Beware of sojourning in Moab. Return quickly to the Lord. The longer you stay out there, the harder it is to return. Yet, as both Naomi and Ruth learned, the Lord is full of lovingkindness and is ready to redeem those who come to Him.
From: May 5, 2015
Born again hearts and transformed minds required. Man-made worship will not do. Only the blood of the Lamb applied can prepare us for acceptable worship. Not time nor place. Not the style of music nor clothes you wear. No, to please God, we must worship in the way He prescribes– in spirit and in truth. God is seeking true worshipers.