The Woman
John 4:39 NKJV
“And many of the
Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who
testified, “He told me all that I ever did.””
When I read the Gospel
of John, the woman at the Samaritan well always draws my attention. If
you’ve ever doubted whether or not God works in mysterious ways, just re-read
this story. There are so many aspects of
this story that are hard to grasp. She timed
her visit to the well to avoid contact with anyone else. Her relationship with others must have had
severe problems if she did that. Why
would anyone want to walk to the well in the hottest time of the day, draw
water, and carry the heavy buckets back home in the heat of the mid-day sun? And then Jesus, an unmarried male Jew, begins
a conversation with a Samaritan woman of unknown marital status. Any decent Jewish man wouldn’t be caught in
the same area with such a woman, and yet here is Jesus starting a conversation
with her; and a very personal conversation at that. I often wonder if Jesus had supernatural
fore-knowledge, or did the Holy Spirit give Him knowledge as the conversation
went on. Whichever it was, He looked
beyond her many sins and meets the deepest need of her hardened heart. His connection with her sparks a two day
revival in Samaria. There is no one
else who would have chosen her to serve as an evangelist.
Why does this story
speak to us so powerfully? It
demonstrates and demonstrates clearly that no one is beyond hope. Here is five-time loser who is shaking up
with yet another man and hiding from the public eye in her shame, and yet God’s
grace reaches down in love and heals even her heart. She goes from loser to witness in a very
short time.
Around the foot of
the cross were many people who needed Him but didn’t know it, while on the next
cross was a loser who did know it. So
Jesus promises that loser eternal life on the spot. “TODAY you shall be with Me in Paradise.” I
wonder how many others there that day went into eternity without Christ when He
was there right in front of them.
Jesus sees the
hearts and intents of people, yet He loves us anyway. Jesus reaches out to those who seek and knock
and search for Him, yes, but He also finds those who don’t know they need Him and
aren’t even looking. I’ve watched
unsaved people who think they’ve got life all figured out fall under the Holy
Spirit’s conviction. When God calls your
name, you will answer whether or not you want to; even if it only to say “no”
to Him. I have a belief that no one will
stand before the Great White Throne and be judged who will be able to say, “Gee,
I didn’t know you were calling to me.” I
believe everyone will have an opportunity to say “yes.” He wants everyone to be
saved and there is room enough around the cross for everyone.
He even works of
Christians like this. Jesus knows your
heart better than you do, and if you’re being pushed this way and that and
under conviction by the Holy Spirit, you want to stop and examine
yourself. Seek counseling and find out
what it is in your life that He wants to change.
Keep praying for
that unsaved person you have on your heart.
Keep praying for that Christian struggling with a problem. God will answer and reach out to them in
love.
Stephen Cram February 5, 2012 Colossians 2:8
Beware lest anyone cheat you through
philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to
the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians
2:8
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