Our sister at the well has not only had her life changed, but because of Jesus, she has changed the lives of so many others. I have come to know this dear woman in ways I hadn't thought I would. She has given me a comfort and a courage and I pray she has become much more familiar to you as well. That’s what happens when you spend time with someone though, right? My pastor recently said, “The only way to build relationships is through time.” How true is that? There is no other way. We think that God is asking us to do this or do that, that He is asking so much from us, but all He is really asking us for is time - time to get to know Him in all His power and in all His glory!
Our Samaritan sister had just spent some intimate time with Jesus and her life was changed forever! Have you ever had an intimate time with Jesus, in your devotional time, during one of the church services, in the car driving to your next destination, and come from it changed forever?! Why is it so hard for us to have the kind of moments that change our life so much that we can’t help but tell others about a man who can quench our thirst? I think part of the reason is because we're too busy thinking about the next thing we think is important for us to do. We are busy trying to make a name for ourselves, build our own platform in ministry, saying that it is all for the glory of God. We are just too busy!
Our Samaritan sister came to get water, so I am guessing there were other people, family perhaps, mainly the other man she was living with, waiting for her return so they could maybe bathe, or start chores (I’m just letting my imagination run a little). Or, perhaps there was no one waiting. Regardless, she came from somewhere, and was planning to return. Yet, there is no more mention of where she came from, or a to-do list that might have been in her mind when she came to the well. No, her life was so changed that all she could think to do was tell other people about a Man who gave her water that left her thirsty no more! Her life changed, and her focus was now on sharing Jesus!
Although the disciples were shocked to find Jesus talking to a Samaritan woman (v. 27), they continued on with their “to-do” - feeding Jesus lunch! They had no idea Jesus had just been nourished by the transformed life of a Samaritan woman and he was full from her redemptive joy. The subtitles in my Bible for this story read, “Jesus Talks to a Woman at the Well”, and then, when the disciples return with lunch and the woman has run off to tell others about Him, it starts a new section titled, “Jesus Tells about the Spiritual Harvest”.
Do you see it? I almost missed it. Jesus starts with giving His life to one woman, just ONE. A most unsuspecting, unsaved, unaware, Samaritan woman. Her eyes are opened to who Jesus is, and her life is changed. In the next moment, lunch is not on the mind of the woman or Jesus - salvation for the harvest is on their mind. Jesus told the disciples when they were trying to get him to eat (v. 31), “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God who sent me, and from finishing his work” (v. 33). It wasn’t enough for the woman’s life to be changed, she could have very well picked up her water jug and walked back home to live out a quiet, saved, restored life; but she didn’t. She left her water jar, her past, at the well, and ran into town where there were more people to tell about this incredible Savior! Jesus moves from one to many. He impacts one, and the one impacts many. ONE! ONE changed life can change a community, which can change a city, which can change a country, which can change the world! There is NOTHING like watching Jesus work in the life of ONE and that ONE going into his/her community and impacting others for the sake of the Kingdom. It is certainly nourishing and fulfilling!
Over the last several weeks, you have journeyed with me through the many lessons we received from our sister at the well. We have learned...
As we get ready to move on from our sweet sister at the well, first, I want to say, “Thank you” for being on this journey with me. A journey is so much richer when there are others around. I have been so impacted by the sweetness of this dear woman’s life and the tender time Jesus took with her to quench her thirst once and for all. I hope you have been just as impacted.
Second, my heart desperately prays for all of us to realize, to the fullest, the impact Jesus wants to have, first on our own lives, and then on the lives of those around us. We can’t possibly impact others with who Jesus is if He hasn’t first impacted us individually.
I pray that our nourishment comes directly from seeing God’s will fulfilled in the lives of everyone around us. We don’t have to wait, we don’t have to look hard for those who are dying of thirst and desperately need the Living Water! Jesus said, “…wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe!” (v. 35b). There are people right in front of you who are thirsty. No more excuses! First, let Jesus change your life, radically! Then, you will be compelled to run into the harvest and change others, just like our sister at the well!
Love and blessings to you all!
Our Samaritan sister had just spent some intimate time with Jesus and her life was changed forever! Have you ever had an intimate time with Jesus, in your devotional time, during one of the church services, in the car driving to your next destination, and come from it changed forever?! Why is it so hard for us to have the kind of moments that change our life so much that we can’t help but tell others about a man who can quench our thirst? I think part of the reason is because we're too busy thinking about the next thing we think is important for us to do. We are busy trying to make a name for ourselves, build our own platform in ministry, saying that it is all for the glory of God. We are just too busy!
Our Samaritan sister came to get water, so I am guessing there were other people, family perhaps, mainly the other man she was living with, waiting for her return so they could maybe bathe, or start chores (I’m just letting my imagination run a little). Or, perhaps there was no one waiting. Regardless, she came from somewhere, and was planning to return. Yet, there is no more mention of where she came from, or a to-do list that might have been in her mind when she came to the well. No, her life was so changed that all she could think to do was tell other people about a Man who gave her water that left her thirsty no more! Her life changed, and her focus was now on sharing Jesus!
Although the disciples were shocked to find Jesus talking to a Samaritan woman (v. 27), they continued on with their “to-do” - feeding Jesus lunch! They had no idea Jesus had just been nourished by the transformed life of a Samaritan woman and he was full from her redemptive joy. The subtitles in my Bible for this story read, “Jesus Talks to a Woman at the Well”, and then, when the disciples return with lunch and the woman has run off to tell others about Him, it starts a new section titled, “Jesus Tells about the Spiritual Harvest”.
Do you see it? I almost missed it. Jesus starts with giving His life to one woman, just ONE. A most unsuspecting, unsaved, unaware, Samaritan woman. Her eyes are opened to who Jesus is, and her life is changed. In the next moment, lunch is not on the mind of the woman or Jesus - salvation for the harvest is on their mind. Jesus told the disciples when they were trying to get him to eat (v. 31), “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God who sent me, and from finishing his work” (v. 33). It wasn’t enough for the woman’s life to be changed, she could have very well picked up her water jug and walked back home to live out a quiet, saved, restored life; but she didn’t. She left her water jar, her past, at the well, and ran into town where there were more people to tell about this incredible Savior! Jesus moves from one to many. He impacts one, and the one impacts many. ONE! ONE changed life can change a community, which can change a city, which can change a country, which can change the world! There is NOTHING like watching Jesus work in the life of ONE and that ONE going into his/her community and impacting others for the sake of the Kingdom. It is certainly nourishing and fulfilling!
Over the last several weeks, you have journeyed with me through the many lessons we received from our sister at the well. We have learned...
- Jesus will cross all barriers for just ONE of us.
- We don’t have to be surprised when LOVE wants to talk with us, no matter who we are or where we have come from.
- The living water Jesus has to offer is not the same as suffering for it and that it is okay to still be thirsty for the living water because it satisfies.
- The love of Jesus can wash away our shame and confirm His love so deeply that we will want to tell others about Him.
- Jesus is looking for a genuine worship created out of desperate situations, and we have learned that when we are truly impacted by the saving love of Christ, we will run into worlds and cry out, “Come and see…!"
As we get ready to move on from our sweet sister at the well, first, I want to say, “Thank you” for being on this journey with me. A journey is so much richer when there are others around. I have been so impacted by the sweetness of this dear woman’s life and the tender time Jesus took with her to quench her thirst once and for all. I hope you have been just as impacted.
Second, my heart desperately prays for all of us to realize, to the fullest, the impact Jesus wants to have, first on our own lives, and then on the lives of those around us. We can’t possibly impact others with who Jesus is if He hasn’t first impacted us individually.
I pray that our nourishment comes directly from seeing God’s will fulfilled in the lives of everyone around us. We don’t have to wait, we don’t have to look hard for those who are dying of thirst and desperately need the Living Water! Jesus said, “…wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe!” (v. 35b). There are people right in front of you who are thirsty. No more excuses! First, let Jesus change your life, radically! Then, you will be compelled to run into the harvest and change others, just like our sister at the well!
Love and blessings to you all!
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