Many of us have read this passage before so bear with me as I found something new last week and wanted so much to share it with you. As for some background -- the Samaritans were a group of people that had separated from the Jews before the Babylonian captivity. They share the history of Moses but like Moses, did not enter the land of Canaan. The point I am making is that they were very familiar with what Yahweh, the story of the Burning Bush and the exile out of Egypt. The shared a common beginning.
I noticed in the story of the Samaritan woman that Jesus does something very unique here. He reveals who He is directly to this woman. This woman came alone to this well in the heat of the day to avoid others - most likely the other ladies' glances, gossip and ridicule. Jesus could have arrived at this well at any time for everything in His ministry had an appointed time.
Jesus, who already knows our hearts, asks the woman for some water. She is surprised and asks who He is. He answers her "If you knew who is the One saying to you, 'Give me to drink, you would have asked Him, and He would give you living water." She asks Jesus if He is greater than Jacob and his sons -- which are the foundation of 12 tribes of Israel -- and where His vessel is to draw this living water. He answers her in a way to expand her vision, "Everyone drinking of this water will thirst again; but whoever may drink of the water which I will give him will never ever thirst, but the water which I will give him will become a fountain of water in him, springing up into everlasting life."
Jesus is saying that if you keep thinking in terms of the world, you will never be satisified. But when you begin to trust and believe in me, you will not only be satisfied but it will grow to become an overflowing life that will testify to others.
She answers Jesus immediately, "Lord, give me this water that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." You see she did two things. She recognized that He was Lord over her life and only He would save her. Secondly, she asked Him to heal her; she did not want to feel the rejection and humiliation any longer.
Jesus responded with what was causing those feelings by saying, "Go, call your husband and come here." She answered, "I have no husband." Jesus acknowledged that she answered honestly stating, "Well You say 'A husband not I have' for you have had five husbands and now who you are with is not your husband."
The woman asks him if He is a prophet for she is familiar that God would send a prophet to speak His words and would know this about her. Next, she confirms that her people have stayed here at the mountain and worshipped but that the Jews say the right place to worship God is in Jerusalem. She is asking for the truth to worship God for she knows she is having a personal encounter and wants to worship Him. She is asking where should she worship God.
He answers her, "Woman, believe Me, that comes an hour when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is of the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth. For the Father also seeks such ones as these that worship Him. God is a spirit and those worshipping Him worship Him in spirit and truth." Do you see what Jesus did? He tells her that God is not bound by a place. He tells her that she is worshipping out of a ritual but that she does not have a relationship. He wants her worship out of a relationship. The salvation is of the Jews is confirming that the Messiah will be a Jew and that the fulfillment will be soon and once fulfilled, will be within each believer.
The woman responds, "I know that Messiah is coming, the One called Christ. When that One comes, He will announce to us all things."
Jesus answers her, "I AM, He is speaking to you."
He reveals to her that not only is He the fulfillment of the Messiah, the Christ fortold but the He is "I AM that I AM" who her people have stayed at the mountain and worshipped. He is the one fortold and fulfilled. To this woman Christ came directly and revealed in such a powerful way who He is. She mattered to Him and wanted Her to know. She responded by dropping her water pot, went out to the city and, having overcome all of her earlier feelings that made her draw her water in shame, she ran out to the city and told everyone what He did and that she found the foretold Christ. She shared the testimony of what Jesus had done for her with everyone she met and they left the city to see Him. "And many of the Samaritans out of that city believed in Him, because of the word of the woman testifying. 'He told me all things, whatever I did.' Then as the Samaritans came to Him, they aked Him to remain with them. And He remained there two days. And many more believed through His word And they said to the woman, 'We no longer believe because of your saying; for we have heard, and we know that this One is truly the Savior of the world, the Christ."
The other Samaritans believed first because of Her testimony but after developing a relationship with Him believed in Him for what they knew firsthand. Isn't this the way? Isn't this powerful?
John 4:7-30,39-42
Blessings v Curses - What Works?
I was reminded about the wedding in Cana and how in Jesus' first miracle He turned water into wine. It symbolized a blessing and was full of life. The wine did not have the time to decay and break down. It is life lived abundantly the way we were meant to live. It is recorded that this wine was the best. John 2:10. This blessing was done to reveal His glory.
In the Old Testament, Jehovah or Yahweh turned the water into blood through Moses' staff. Exodus 7:17. This was done as a curse against the Egyptians. The curse symbolized death as Pharaoh's heart was spiritually dead. Why Pharaoh? He did not recognize the sovereignty of Yahweh and he was the object of the Egyptians' worship. This curse was done to reveal Yahweh's power and sovereignty over all things and all people. Yahweh is the one and only true God.
A blessing is meant to share His abundance with those around us and through us because of who He is. It has nothing to do with our strength our skills but rather what can be done through us by Him. We simply are trusting in Yahweh, giving freely and cheerfully what we have been already given to us by Him.
A curse is meant to bring about changed hearts and to turn back to Him. It is not about a tally sheet but rather the faithful (or faithless) attitude of the heart. It is meant to make us understand our inferiority in light of His sovereignty. It is meant to illuminate our hearts and refocus our need for Yahweh, our strong tower and refuge.
Our lives should not be lived like a sales receipt when dealing with the Lord. It should not be about how much we spent compared to how much we saved. For one, we cannot save anyone for that is the work of the Holy Spirit. God means for us to prosper and live abundantly when we put Him first. Not the way the world judges prosperity and abundance for we are not of this world - we are only visiting. At the end of checking out, He is going to look down at us and see how much He saved compared to what was invested. If one was saved, it was a good investment. If many were saved as a witness to how we leaned on His understanding, His strength and bore the good and bad seasons in our lives then that will be an even better investment.
It is not what we can do or work for Him. It is what we allow Him to do through us because we recognize who He is and we trust Him. The difference is the attitude of the heart. It is not about our works but rather being a good and faithful servant.
In the Old Testament, Jehovah or Yahweh turned the water into blood through Moses' staff. Exodus 7:17. This was done as a curse against the Egyptians. The curse symbolized death as Pharaoh's heart was spiritually dead. Why Pharaoh? He did not recognize the sovereignty of Yahweh and he was the object of the Egyptians' worship. This curse was done to reveal Yahweh's power and sovereignty over all things and all people. Yahweh is the one and only true God.
A blessing is meant to share His abundance with those around us and through us because of who He is. It has nothing to do with our strength our skills but rather what can be done through us by Him. We simply are trusting in Yahweh, giving freely and cheerfully what we have been already given to us by Him.
A curse is meant to bring about changed hearts and to turn back to Him. It is not about a tally sheet but rather the faithful (or faithless) attitude of the heart. It is meant to make us understand our inferiority in light of His sovereignty. It is meant to illuminate our hearts and refocus our need for Yahweh, our strong tower and refuge.
Our lives should not be lived like a sales receipt when dealing with the Lord. It should not be about how much we spent compared to how much we saved. For one, we cannot save anyone for that is the work of the Holy Spirit. God means for us to prosper and live abundantly when we put Him first. Not the way the world judges prosperity and abundance for we are not of this world - we are only visiting. At the end of checking out, He is going to look down at us and see how much He saved compared to what was invested. If one was saved, it was a good investment. If many were saved as a witness to how we leaned on His understanding, His strength and bore the good and bad seasons in our lives then that will be an even better investment.
It is not what we can do or work for Him. It is what we allow Him to do through us because we recognize who He is and we trust Him. The difference is the attitude of the heart. It is not about our works but rather being a good and faithful servant.
Love One Another
God has been trying to get through this thick head of mine (and especially my heart) to realize that God looks at us as a whole. I thought during the seasons I would abide with Him He would really love me. During those seasons that I was not abiding as much and His voice was far, I thought He would love me less and would be filled with disappointment.
The real truth is that God loves us before we loved Him. This means that He always loves us no matter what. It is my heart that yearns for His. He is never far from mine; it was my heart that can stray far from His and must be found again. I was viewing God's love as conditional and based upon performance. Since none are worthy, no performance will ever win what was never lost. Therefore, I was not really understanding nor feeling God's love because I was truly limiting myself.
The real truth is that God loves us before we loved Him. This means that He always loves us no matter what. It is my heart that yearns for His. He is never far from mine; it was my heart that can stray far from His and must be found again. I was viewing God's love as conditional and based upon performance. Since none are worthy, no performance will ever win what was never lost. I was not really understanding nor feeling God's love because I was truly limiting myself.
When I began to understand this, God showed me that those closest to me were also being viewed this way. If they did things that were thoughtful and caring, then I would show feel loved. If it was mean and insensitive, then I would hold back to avoid getting hurt and feel insecure. This type of love measures and compares and is not love at all. One cannot trully love this way. How great it is that God does not love us in this way!
In addition, we must not view our brothers and sisters in Christ in this way. Determining if their heart is sincere. God judges our hearts - what gives us the right? We are to love our Christian family fully and this allows us to help each other along the path, understanding we share these same struggles and support each other along this journey. After all, what other may mean to harm us, God means for our best. We can encourage each other through these struggles.
I have been guilty of helping some come to Christ or meeting new Christians and instead of helping them with understanding the scripture or coming closer to God, coming to a new formula or law. If we are free, then we are free indeed. Not every Christian must listen to Christian music or gospel. We all don't have to attend the same church and dress the same. If we were all meant to be identical would God have created such variety in nature?
If I look into God's nature, I see all different type of flowers -- which is superior? Of all of God's creatures, which has been given less thought and care in their design? Each serves a unique purpose and has the signature of a God that loves us each intently, uniquely -- full of purpose -- and best of all, consistenly. Even the rocks exhibit unique characteristics between the same type. For example, granite is unique to its location although it has the same basic qualities. Each piece of granite is beautiful in its own right -- which is better? So it is with people, too.
If we lift up this veil of society and look underneath, we may find that we are all the same -- we all feel, we all bleed, we all hunger and we all search to be accepted. God does not see classes or race or prestige -- He sees the hearts of His people. Man sees the labels. God sees the beauty in His designs, how each of us are fingerprints of His craftsmanship.
Each of us are made with purpose and intent. He who made our flaws understands why and can and will turn them around until our weaknesses are works of beauty for His glory to shine through. So it must be with a gentle heart that we view each other. Among all things, to love one another as God loves us. The sin is not the person and must not be confused. When this is difficult, ask God to show the heart of the matter through His eyes, His perspective.
The sun shines in differently through all types of materials and windows through my house. It moves around the house differently depending on the season. It is the same with us. Although God always is, our relationship changes with the season. God never leaves us nor forsakes us. Love never fails. Although we may only see a season or a part of person's life, God is at work. What a priviledge it is to have friends from the whole of your life to see how God works in and out issues, seasons and character -- how He works throughout a person's life. I, myself, am still overcoming. Those around me are too. Lord, may I see others with your perspective and patience.
After all, the bottom line is not a dollar. The bottom line is the Love of our Lord and did they know I am His.
The real truth is that God loves us before we loved Him. This means that He always loves us no matter what. It is my heart that yearns for His. He is never far from mine; it was my heart that can stray far from His and must be found again. I was viewing God's love as conditional and based upon performance. Since none are worthy, no performance will ever win what was never lost. Therefore, I was not really understanding nor feeling God's love because I was truly limiting myself.
The real truth is that God loves us before we loved Him. This means that He always loves us no matter what. It is my heart that yearns for His. He is never far from mine; it was my heart that can stray far from His and must be found again. I was viewing God's love as conditional and based upon performance. Since none are worthy, no performance will ever win what was never lost. I was not really understanding nor feeling God's love because I was truly limiting myself.
When I began to understand this, God showed me that those closest to me were also being viewed this way. If they did things that were thoughtful and caring, then I would show feel loved. If it was mean and insensitive, then I would hold back to avoid getting hurt and feel insecure. This type of love measures and compares and is not love at all. One cannot trully love this way. How great it is that God does not love us in this way!
In addition, we must not view our brothers and sisters in Christ in this way. Determining if their heart is sincere. God judges our hearts - what gives us the right? We are to love our Christian family fully and this allows us to help each other along the path, understanding we share these same struggles and support each other along this journey. After all, what other may mean to harm us, God means for our best. We can encourage each other through these struggles.
I have been guilty of helping some come to Christ or meeting new Christians and instead of helping them with understanding the scripture or coming closer to God, coming to a new formula or law. If we are free, then we are free indeed. Not every Christian must listen to Christian music or gospel. We all don't have to attend the same church and dress the same. If we were all meant to be identical would God have created such variety in nature?
If I look into God's nature, I see all different type of flowers -- which is superior? Of all of God's creatures, which has been given less thought and care in their design? Each serves a unique purpose and has the signature of a God that loves us each intently, uniquely -- full of purpose -- and best of all, consistenly. Even the rocks exhibit unique characteristics between the same type. For example, granite is unique to its location although it has the same basic qualities. Each piece of granite is beautiful in its own right -- which is better? So it is with people, too.
If we lift up this veil of society and look underneath, we may find that we are all the same -- we all feel, we all bleed, we all hunger and we all search to be accepted. God does not see classes or race or prestige -- He sees the hearts of His people. Man sees the labels. God sees the beauty in His designs, how each of us are fingerprints of His craftsmanship.
Each of us are made with purpose and intent. He who made our flaws understands why and can and will turn them around until our weaknesses are works of beauty for His glory to shine through. So it must be with a gentle heart that we view each other. Among all things, to love one another as God loves us. The sin is not the person and must not be confused. When this is difficult, ask God to show the heart of the matter through His eyes, His perspective.
The sun shines in differently through all types of materials and windows through my house. It moves around the house differently depending on the season. It is the same with us. Although God always is, our relationship changes with the season. God never leaves us nor forsakes us. Love never fails. Although we may only see a season or a part of person's life, God is at work. What a priviledge it is to have friends from the whole of your life to see how God works in and out issues, seasons and character -- how He works throughout a person's life. I, myself, am still overcoming. Those around me are too. Lord, may I see others with your perspective and patience.
After all, the bottom line is not a dollar. The bottom line is the Love of our Lord and did they know I am His.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)