John 4:43-54 – After the two days He left for Galilee. 44 (Now Jesus Himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) 45 When He arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed Him. They had seen all that He had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there. 46 Once more He visited Cana in Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to Him and begged Him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. 48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” 49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” 53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed. 54 This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.
“After the two days he left for Galilee.” The two days that the Samaritans had asked Him to stay. (V40)
“(Now Jesus Himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) 45 When He arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there.” There are varying thoughts concerning about where Jesus was referring to when He said “his own country.” The easier thought may be that, since He was arriving in Galilee, He was speaking of Galilee. However the following verse may give reason to believe that Jesus was not speaking of Galilee (“they welcomed Him.”)
It is true that Jesus was raised in the Galilee region, but we remember that He was not born there but was instead born in Bethlehem in Judea. So was Jesus referring to Judea where He was born or was He referring to Galilee where He grew up?
Many believe that Jesus was not referring to Galilee or Bethlehem, but to Jerusalem. The reason being is that to the Jews, the true home to all Jews, and the center of worship, and the place of the Temple, was Jerusalem. Therefore the home to the Messiah, where He was to worship and lead from was Jerusalem. So, Jerusalem is the strong choice and we know that Jerusalem, the Jewish leaders there, rejected Him. So since the people of Galilee enthusiastically welcomed Him it Jerusalem seems to be the place that He was speaking of.
The truth of Jesus’ statement seems to be alive today also, though not in all situations. Sometimes the place a tradesman learned his trade will always think of that person as a “rookie” who has much to learn, even after he knows the trade very well. Sometimes it takes moving to another company for skills to be appreciated.
Sometimes a mother’s own family may not realize all that she does for them because they have become accustomed to it. Yet a visiting friend may observe how she takes care of her family and will respect her for all she does. Oftentimes, though not all the time, it is not the ones who have lived with us, who have seen us grow up, who appreciate how the Lord has blessed us. Certainly those who saw us grow up remember all our mistakes and it can be difficult in their estimation to move from that reputation, that shadow, to whom we have become. Some of those that saw Jesus grow up could not see whom He was revealed to be. They just saw a person who grew up around them. To them He was just Jesus “from the block.” And those were people who refused to see who He really was.
When people can only see us as we were and not as what we are, sometimes it time to move on. Not in anger, but as guided by the Holy Spirit. The Lord may be wanting us to move on to do the things that He wants us to do and to become all that He wants us to become. Jesus desired that Jerusalem would welcome Him and the blessings that He wished to give them, but they resisted. (Matthew 23:37) He needed to minster there but also to move on and minister in other places. So it may be for us. Sometimes the Lord wants us to stay and minister around where we were raised. Sometimes we are called to other places and so, being where He wants us to be, we have the opportunity to do the things that God has for us to do and to be who He wants us to be. And after all, isn’t that the point of it all? To be what God wants us to be and to do what He wants us to do as we walk in faith and obedience with Him. Sounds like Heaven. Well, at least Heaven on earth as we walk the journey to our Heavenly home. Praise God! Always obey and trust God! He has a plan. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withPsalm 56:3-4 – When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
What is on your mind this morning? Is there someone or something that is troubling you? Perhaps today, or this week you need to face something that you dread? Are you sick? Is there a consequence for a mistake? Maybe what is to be dealt with is nothing personal consequence, but is societal? Is it relational? Whatever it is, it’s troubling. It is causing you to be uneasy. You just don’t want to face it or go through it. These things are common in all our lives. Really, the things we go through are things that others of us also go through. Not only are we not alone because the Lord is with us but we are not alone because we have others who have also gone through similar things. Or even people who love and care for us and are willing to go through it with us. They will be there with us through the rough times. Prayer buddies are the best. Some will bring meals. Some will not know what to do but will ask how they can help. Sincerely, some just don’t know how to help, but want to. Even in these are blessings. In all those who are tender with you, who earnestly support and who love you, this is the hand of God showing His love. Know that He, the Lord God Almighty, is reaching out to show to us the reality of Himself. When a person shows us love, when this bring a smile or a laugh, when they are kind to us, when they are good to us, and so important is for those who are faithful to us, behind it is the Lord, even if the deliverer is not from God. Sometimes we, in our anxious moments are not easy to be around and so how important is it for people to be gentle with us? Self-control toward us comes along with all these ways of love being expressed to us. Sometimes to be gentle with us people need great self-control. I have received all these things and every time I love and appreciate from whom these things come to me. Yet always I ultimately thank God for His love. I know that these things come from God’s love for me. All these acts are God loving me. Each is a rose representing love from a loving Groom.
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Amen and amen! Thank You Lord that You are exactly who You are. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withMatthew 22:37-40 – Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Mark 12:29-31 – “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Love. Matthew 22:40 and Mark 12:31 clearly state that to receive Gods love, to love Him with all that we are, and to love each other is the essence of peace with God, also with others, and to daily walk in it. Nothing gives us undefeatable peace and eternal satisfaction of soul more than walking as the Lord has called us to. We know that He has called us to love.
Galatians 5:22-24 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Most of us know this scripture, but have we taken it to the Lord and asked for insight? Have we used it to examine our lives and see if we measure up to its calling…all the time, every time? Most importantly if we ask God if we measure up to it, what will be His assessment of us? Family and Friends, this a statement from on from God. I know that I fail. I am not always loving (remember it starts with loving God first, foremost and always). Loving God effects everything else that we do. Jesus taught us that it all begins and ends with love. He taught that if we love God more than anyone else (and it should not be close) or anything else, we break no laws. If we have the love of God flowing into us, making us new creations, and then from our new hearts His love flows back to Him and out to others, then we will break no laws. We will not sin. (Romans 13:8-10) If we think that is oversimplification, then argue with Jesus, He is the one who said it.
What is the secret of life, of all life? It is found in these verses in the books of Matthew and Mark. Jesus simplified the meaning of life for us. Receive God’s love, be renewed by it, and let, from a changed heart and soul, this divine love flow to others. When we are changed by His love it will flow from us to others, just as His love flows to us. By the very nature of it divine love is shared from one to another.
God is love, He always has been and always will be. (1 John 4:8) Being true to His nature, and He can be nothing else, His love flows to us. Giving Himself to us is His greatest gift to us. His greatest expression of love to us is Jesus. (Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:15) Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Oh love God who first loved us! (1 John 4:19) How do we love Him? Primarily we love Him by loving Jesus. How do we love Jesus? He said that if we love Him we will obey Him. (John 14:15, 15:14) We grow in God’s love because none of us have already perfected it. We can grow in it because daily we receive an endless supply. Daily His love changes us.
Love Jesus endlessly and without stipulation. After all, He is God and we are not. With all that we are love God and when we do that, we will love each other, and if we love each other with Godly love, then we will not sin. Love God and express love (words and action) to others today.
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withJohn 4:39-42 – Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to Him, they urged Him to stay with them, and He stayed two days. 41 And because of His words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” The Samaritan woman told her Jesus story. She told what Jesus did for her and who she thought He was. We all should be so in love with Jesus, and so excited, that we can’t wait to tell our story. When people see the reality of our Jesus story they may then begin to believe and they will want to know more.
“So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and He stayed two days.” Some people from her town who heard her testimony believed in Him. Others were very interested to know more. When they came to Him, they wanted to know Him better and so they asked Him to stay a couple days longer.
“And because of His words many more became believers.” Obviously they were “good soil” just as the woman had been. They listened to Him and believed Him. (Matthew 13:23) How beautiful!
“They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” They told the woman that now they believe not only because she told them about Jesus, but because now they personally know Jesus. This statement to her was not a brushoff of her witness to them but instead a joyous acclamation of their own relationship with Jesus. Their relationship with Jesus was fruit from her joyous sharing. And more so we see the joy of the sower and reaper perfectly united. Jesus sowed the seed, the woman then also sowed, and the result was the bountiful reaping of the village harvest. As wonderful as this woman sharing Jesus was to them, these people needed their own relationship with Jesus. John the Baptist has a ministering of lighting the way to Jesus. The Samaritan woman did the same. So do we joyously do.
It is a true saying that God has only children, no grandchildren. How sadly mistaken are all those who think that they will not share their faith with their children. They will leave it up to them to find their way. Horror! If we don’t guide them to Jesus then the world will guide them away from Him. And if away from Him, then away from eternal salvation with Him. Teach our children, teach all the children. Share with our family and friends. Tell everyone that Jesus has come into our hearts and saved our souls. Tell everyone, even those who seem to be the most unlikely to respond favorably. The Samaritan woman seemed like a hardened person who would not come to Jesus. Truly, at first she resisted, but to her blessing, Jesus persisted. To the Jewish converts, even ministering to the Samaritans seemed a waste of time, if not a dirty deed. But Jesus knew that the Father sent Him to save the world, not just the Jews, not just certain people, but to give everyone in the world a chance to be redeemed by God Himself. We never know who will come to Jesus. Tell everyone and let Jesus, who knows the minds and hearts of all, finish the work. When we share, when we pray, we have done what we are called to do and that is to love God, to love each other, and to share the Gospel. It produces a restful and peaceful sleep. (Psalm 3:21-24) Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withJohn 4:28-38 – 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him. 31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” 34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
“Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” The woman now had belief and was growing in it. She was excited and had to tell the others in her village about Jesus. These are the same people who criticized her and ostracized her. She set that aside to tell people about Jesus. Isn’t that the same result in our times? When someone falls in love with Jesus they immediately want to tell people about Him. Something this good, this life changing has to be shared. And by the way, the fire of that should never grow cold.
“Could this be the Messiah?” She already believed Jesus to be the Messiah. After all, He had not only told her about her life, but He directly told her that He was the Messiah. She believed Him and as she had been drawn to Jesus so she enticed others to come to Him and, well, “Come and see.”
“They came out of the town and made their way toward him.” We can fairly assume that she was not a scholar of scripture. Yet she understood that the Messiah would be coming so she certainly was familiar with scripture and she was hoping for the Messiah to come soon. So what did she share with the people? She shared her story of meeting and coming to know Jesus. She shared that she believed that Jesus was the Messiah. While it is most important to know scripture, often the most powerful and potent thing we can share with someone is what Jesus did for us. We know that story and people often respond most to our personal testimonies. What has Jesus done for us?
“Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food? “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” His disciples loved Him and of course were concerned for Him. They knew His journey to Sychar and that He had not eaten. It is true that physically Jesus had been thirsty as He had asked the woman for water. Since He was thirsty He was also likely hungry. After all, He had sent the disciples to get food for Him and them. He responds to them that He has had nourishment that they don’t know about. What stimulated Him was the woman had believed and was now sharing and soon her village would believe. Jesus was motivated by doing the will of God, and that from an early age. (Luke 2:49) Yet the disciples often thought with their natural thoughts rather than with their spiritual minds so they did not understand.
“35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.” It was known that it took about four months from sowing seeds to reaping the harvest. Jesus was the Sower as He had already spread the seed, who was the woman. The woman was good soil explained in Matthew 13:23. Jesus was saying the fields are ripe. Soon, the crowd that the woman spoke to and who were coming to meet Jesus were already ripe and were headed toward Jesus and the disciples. The sower and the reaper may be glad together. At harvest time it is not only the reaper who rejoices in the crop, it is also the one who sowed the seed. Their joy is united. It is the same for the one who first shares their faith with a person and though the faith did not grow roots right then, when someone different also shares of Jesus and faith takes root in the same person, then both the sower and the reaper rejoice in the harvest. This person now has eternal life. We do what we are called to do (Matthew 28:18-20) and the Holy Spirit blesses our efforts. Praise God!
“Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” The disciples had the chance, even that very day, to help reap what they had not sown. Jesus was the One who led the woman to faith in Him. It was the woman shared her story to the people who would come to meet Jesus, not the disciples. They were there to, with Jesus, reap what is the product of work before them. It is the same for us. One Believer shares their faith with a person and then prays for that person. Another, or many others, water the seed, then a sprout appears and another or others tend the tender sprout to maturity, and then someone reaps the harvest. Jesus was telling them to open their eyes and be ready to share what He shared with them. He is telling us to do the same. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 “As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” Today is the day to share the Gospel. As we obey God and share Jesus with others, and as we pray for others, we also enjoy the victory that others receive through Jesus. Our joy will rise as we work. And the work is not burdensome, but joyous and rewarding. We are honored to be called to it! Let us work in unison and enjoy together. Praise God who allows us to do so. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withJohn 4:27 – Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”
Jesus did not set out to break rules, He set out to keep God’s rules. Jesus’ greatest desire was to do the will of God. If that stepped on the toes of men, then He would say “so be it!” (Matthew 21:12-17) If Jesus was concerned about keeping the traditions of men He would have never talked to the Samaritan woman. But Jesus would reveal to His disciples that what sustained Him was to do the will of His Father. He was more concerned about the spiritual than the physical. He did not neglect the physical, but His concern was more with the eternal rather than the temporal. Both important, but the spiritual and eternal were what was most important. So He spoke to the woman, she came to understand, and she gleefully rushed to share that she had come to know the Messiah. That is the same reaction for all those who truly know Him. She left aside her insecurities to tell all who would listen that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus was most important and she would to light the way to Him. It should be the same for all of us. What is most important is not whether or not we think ourselves “gifted” to be His witness but rather to obey His will and to let the love and joy of Him in our hearts flow to irrigate the dry hearts of those who do not know Him. Jesus first, then our neighbors, then ourselves. (Mark 12:29-31; Philippians 2:4) It is what Jesus modeled. (Philippians 2:5-8)
Once, when I was a young man, there was a beautiful woman who worked in the same area that I did. It was a large company with, as I remember, over fifty thousand employees just in the facilities I worked in. This woman, had a bad reputation among the men. Her and I casually knew each other and exchanged greetings when we came across each other. I was already married and known to be a Christian so I purposely, because of her reputation, kept our conversations cordial. Not unfriendly, just cordial, for appearances sake. One Monday the Lord clearly let me know that she was looking for Him. He wanted me to talk to her about Him. I am ashamed to say that while I did not say “no” to Him, I did, in actions, resist. I did not want others to think that I was trying to have an inappropriate relationship with her so I greeted her warmly but did not think spending time talking to her in front of peering eyes would be best. The Lord gave me plenty of opportunity and reminders to obey, but I did not. The week passed. Then, after the weekend, she excitedly ran up to me on Monday, threw her arms around me and hugged me tightly. I was aghast. She then told me that she was so happy because she went to church over the weekend and she learned about Jesus and she was just so happy. I felt some shame that I had not talked to her as the Lord had directed me to, but mostly I just felt relief at the news and was very happy for her. I asked her where she had visited. My heart fell and dread came over me. She had visited a known cult. She had been invited by one who attended there. He had done his master’s will while I had not done mine. I quickly explained that while they talked about Jesus they had no idea who He really was. I told her she needn’t come to the church I attended, but I could help her find a real church of Christ. She was hurt by what I was saying. Her joy turned to sadness. That night she talked to an elder of that church who told her to keep away from me, to not listen to me, and that is what she began to do. To this day, some forty years later, I still remember the sad ramifications of my disobedience. However, I learned. To not speak to her was what I had been taught the traditions of men. The teaching had wisdom, was well intended, but was only sound advice and not “Gospel.” It is better to heed the Holy Spirit than the traditions of mankind, no matter what good intention the tradition was started. The Jews were filled with many well intentioned traditions but Jesus often said then to them “you have heard it said…but I say unto you.” (Matthew 5:21-48) Know God’s Word, heed His Spirit.
Family and Friends, know and do the Word of God. Listen to the teaching and guiding of the Spirit. Consider the good traditions of men, but know the difference. Good advice from men, I’m not referring to lessons from the Word or the Spirit’s teachings, is good to apply to our lives as they also can keep us from trouble. However know the difference between what God has given us and what men have given us. The Word and the leading of the Spirit is sacrosanct. Not so the words of men. Now, if the Lord tells me to talk to someone, I talk to them, man or woman. To women, in a public setting. The warnings are sound, rightly applied, and never to precede the Word and Spirit of God. Keep our hearts pure. Know them. Run away if we need to and do the will of God. (1 Corinthians 6:18, 10:14; 2 Timothy 2:22, 6:11, Genesis 39:12) Always be pray. Honestly evaluate yourself. The will of the Lord will prevail if we keep Him first and ourselves second. Our actions and words should be to praise of God. Praise God! Always praise God in word and action. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withJohn 4:16-26 – He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that You are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but You Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what You do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, He will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am He.”
“He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” The Lord knows how to reach us. He knows when to be firm and when to be soft. He knows how to touch a heart that has become hardened and has learned to fight to protect itself, thinking only can it survive if it fights against those who assail, and too often, it fears all will assail because it seems like all has. Whether a soft heart that needs precise incisions to gently cut away, or a hard heart that needs firmer and deeper cuts, even within these types the treatment can be highly varied. Our precious Lord knows how to heal hearts. We see that Jesus varied how He called to this woman, one He knew belonged to Him. She had gotten herself caked on dirty. Jesus cleaned off layer by layer and gently brought her closer. Than He began to expose who He was as He revealed His knowledge of her. As He did she began, slowly, to understand. Her mind surely began to spin, is this who I think it is? She hoped, but she still had some fight in her. She didn’t truly understand that she was speaking with the Master Fisher of mankind.
Proverbs 26:4-5 “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.” Some fools are not ready for truth, and may not ever be ready for it. There is no reason to cast your pearls before swines that will not and therefore cannot receive the truth. (Matthew 7:6) From these, at least at that time, it is better to walk away. They, in their darkened minds, do not grasp the truth and even think that you are a fool and certainly no better than, but rather equal to, they themselves. Better to walk away and maybe, as the Lord leads, revisit at the right time, as led by the Holy Spirit. However the one who lives foolishly, may end up being ministered to by other holy servants and rise to the level that the fool can be ministered to. It is at that time that one may “answer a fool” and the Word will not bounce off a hard head but penetrate his mind and heart and the soul be saved. That person must not continue to walk and think their foolishness wise, but the divine opportunity to them must be taken so that the fool may repent and be saved by the grace of God.
““Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that You are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but You Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” A fish on a line is brought in slowly and consistently. Fisherman know how to draw them in. She acknowledges because of the supernatural knowledge of Jesus about her, that He is “a prophet.” The hook she has bitten into may be painful, but it is secure and the pain is nothing compared to the reward. Yet she has a remaining question. Some may think her question about worship was her still fighting. Perhaps. But then again, when she has been taught something contentious all of her life, the question can indeed be sincere.
“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what You do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” Jesus lets her know that the location where God is worshipped is not what is most important. It is that God is worshipped. We may worship in a Baptist church, or an Evangelical church, or a Pentecostal church, but none of those buildings and the location of them is what matters. What matters is whether or not the one true God is taught and worshipped there. Is the inerrant Word of God uncovered, or is it attacked? Is faith preached by humble men of God or is faith assailed by proud men who attempt to bring honor to self rather than God? Where is not the issue, Who is the important matter.
True worshippers, as opposed to worshippers who do not know the truth is what matters. What do true worshippers know that the deceived do not know, it is that the God, who is Spirit, will be worshipped in the Holy Spirit and in Truth (God’s holy Word revealed by the Spirit). We know that we are not saved by our efforts but by the grace of God that is by the work of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are saved by faith in God and not by works. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Our salvation is not by earthly effort, but is obtained only by the free love and grace received from God. It is not obtained by our efforts and it is not kept by our efforts, it all a work of God which we yield to in our spirits in submission to His Spirit. (Psalm 51:17) The only kind of worshipper that God accepts are those who seek Him with our spirit as we yield and commune with His Spirit.
“God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” Before all of creation there was no matter. God was before anything in all of creation because He made everything. Since God existed before all things, and He was not created but the Creator, then He was spirit and not physical body. He existed as spirit, He is the Spirit. God made us in His image. The most important part of us is our spirit which was breathed into us by His Spirit. If one wants to get down to the basic truth then “God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in Truth.” Oh dear Lord, help us to be humble and to yield to you!
“The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, He will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am He.” The woman now broaches what is dawning in her mind. Is this man before her the Messiah? Dare she ask? She is so nervous and so excited, can she even bring up the Messiah? Is this Him? She mentions that the Messiah will explain everything to them (has not this man been doing just that?). Then her breath is taken away as He tells her what she was afraid to ask, He, tells her that yes, He is indeed the long awaited Messiah. How she could keep standing I don’t know. Praise God, praise God!
Do you remember when the Truth was understood in your mind? I remember for me. How could I forget? I could hardly continue to stand! God in me because He actually loved me. Nothing is more wondrous than that. And for our dear sister, this Samaritan woman, nothing was dearer for her! Praise Jesus who loved her so! Praise God who loves us so!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withMatthew 25:30 – And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Job 20:6a – Complete darkness is held in reserve for his treasures, and unfanned fire will devour him.
The Enigma
It’s so dark.
My eyes are straining for a vapor of light.
Nothing that would provide clear visibility,
Just a modicum of light that my eyes could see,
So that I would know I’m not blind.
This darkness is a suffocating animated blanket of air,
That holds innumerable nightmares and uncounted imaginings.
It whispers uncertainties in your ear and shouts them at your face.
While my mind fights the taunts,
My body fights the imaginings.
There are no threats, no voices.
There is nothing crawling on my skin,
Nothing biting the back of my legs,
Nothing next to me.
Nothing, no-one.
Animated darkness, it is a perpetual, constant anxiety.
It is pain from nowhere, from nothing.
It is an empty pain which disables the mind to fool the body.
I am alone, really alone.
No-one, not a friend or a lover to comfort me.
Not even an enemy to feel comfort in the hate.
An emptiness in the spirit,
a realization of no hope.
Complete despair.
No sanity, no rest.
Nothing, no-one,
Not even God.
Nothing no-one,
Not God,
Not even myself.
Just darkness which eats through the skin like fire.
Not physical, but spiritual.
A darkness which allows for no recovery or refuge.
You can’t close your eyes to escape it,
It’s there,
Always there.
There you are,
There you stay.
No change will come.
You and darkness are one.
There is no distinguishing between it and you.
You have no identity.
You just exist.
You can know nothing with certainty,
Yet fear everything.
No rest, no protection.
There is only one thought which recurs to haunt you.
One thought of sanity and forever an enigma.
Where is the Light?
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withPsalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob withJohn 4:1-16 – Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
“Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” Jesus is trying to get her attention. First He asked her for help, now He is telling her something intriguing about what she perceives as a magical kind of water and also, about who He is. She is interested in the water, and is getting more interested in Jesus, but she is still not sure what He is up to. But if Jesus could give her water to prevent her daily water drawing efforts, that thought is tantalizing to her.
With the word used here that is translated as “living” she may have understood it to mean running water, water that is gushing up. Since Jacob’s well was supplied by an underground stream, she may have understood the Lord’s statement to her in this way. However this word could also mean, and was what Jesus was relating to her, water that was living and brought life. We know that the Holy Spirit is God, is eternally alive, and the life of God is brought to us because of Jesus and through the Spirit. Life through the Spirit comes from God to within us and that life not only comes to live within but to infuse that life into us. We remember that the Holy Spirit is the breath of life, the wind of life that allows us to live. (Genesis 2:7, Ezekiel 37:9-10, Acts 17:24-25) This living water that the Lord was speaking of was the Holy Spirit who seals us unto God for eternity. (Ephesians 1:13)
“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?” The Samaritan woman was still thinking from a fleshly perspective and not a spiritual one. So, from what she could figure out, what she could observe, was that Jesus had nothing to draw water out from the well, from which she presumed Jesus would get this water. It didn’t make sense to her. Thinking from a natural worldly perspective it wouldn’t have. She could only understand if she would believe Jesus. But so far, she was interested in Him but did not believe Him.
“Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Some people we share the Lord to begin to understand and come close to yielding and then, when they are about to cross over, they pull back. It seems like the woman was being drawn in and then she pulled back and fell again into the pride of loyalty to her people and her culture. This can still be a major hurdle for people today. Even after coming to Jesus some people are drawn back into the burden. Jesus has to be our first and primary love.
“Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” We will see that Jesus is very patient with her. Jesus knows her history. She has had a rough life that was the result of her poor decisions and, a fair presumption may be because of her circumstances. We know that tough circumstances do not excuse unwise decisions. However, God knows the circumstances she was born into and what may have brought her to the bad decisions. (Matthew 6:8) The Lord God Almighty, the God who loves, did not abandon her because of her decisions, but rather pursued her as He did from the day she was born. Pursuing fallen mankind is what the Lord has been doing ever since the fall. He had love for her, so He was patient with her. While people only saw her poor life decisions and thought they knew everything about her, God saw her heart and focused on pulling in one of His lost. Just like He has done for all of us.
“The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” Okay, she seems to have taken the bait, but yet she is still thinking with a natural mind and not fully understand. It is no different a spiritual malady than many others, it is hard to stop thinking like the world when that has been all one has ever known.
“He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” Jesus had been gently enticing her from the shadows to draw her into the light. He now revealed that He was the Messiah. That He was God in the flesh. He could have said anything about her life. He could have told her that He has always known her by telling her who her parents were, when she was born, or any other fact of her life. Jesus, knowing her, knew just what to say to her. He exposed her open and deepest wound. He brought up what hurt her most. He brought up what she had spent many a night crying to God about. It is what she wanted forgiveness for and wondered if she could ever receive it from God. Here was Jesus showing He knew her, really knew her. It was what she needed to hear. He rocked her with a open display of who He was. She had prayed to God and she probably now was wondering if Jesus was God’s answer to her. She was afraid, but began to wonder, might this be the Messiah?”
Family and Friends, God shows us in this beautiful parable who great is His love for us, for all of us. He will never forsake us no matter how dirty we might become. He always calls, He always seek us. And calling and seeking us is God making the first move to help us. He loved us first. He loves you, He loves all of us. In the morning, every morning, call out to Him. He is there, loving you. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
by Bob with