Today’s Reading: John 4:16-18; 25-26 (NIV)
16 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.”
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 who speak to you am He.”
Memory Verse: “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7 ESV)
Good day!
The truth is not always pretty. We do our best our best to tuck the things we are ashamed of away in the recesses of our hearts, where no one can see it. When we meet someone for the first time, we hope to leave a good first impression. That first point of contact can potentially make or break a relationship. This woman knew the stranger was someone special. After all, He did stop and speak to her! He cared enough to ask her for a drink of water. Surely, this man could tell who she was just by her physical appearance. Samaritans and Jews never interact. So why would He even bother to talk to her?
How did He know? How did he know about her personal living arrangement? It was as if he could see everything she had ever done. He saw past the failed marriages and recognized her broken heart. She had a deep longing to be loved, and the stranger knew it! How could this man, whom she had just met, know so much about her life? Was He a prophet? Could He be the Messiah?
Do you remember the first time you fell in love? A wonderful feeling wells up inside when you begin to realize that someone really knows and understands you, and loves you anyway! What kind of love is this? This realization occurs when you meet Christ for the first time at the well of your life. The woman had carried a lot of pain and regret around for years. If she had been able to simply dump it into the well that day, her pain would have completely filled it up. There are times when I’m sure you wonder where God is in the middle of your suffering and grief. Believe me, Jesus shows up just when we need Him the most and when He reveals Himself, there is no doubt of His extravagant love. He knows and understands your heart, and He loves you anyway!
Our relationship with Christ begins in love. It is the one love that will never ever die. We love Him, because He first loved us. There is no flaw you can hide from His eyes. He sees you; He knows you, just as you are, and loves you! Jesus loves you! Our relationship grows deeper in daily worship, devotion and praise. We speak to Him out of our heart’s desire, trying to somehow express how we feel; and yet, He knows what we think before a word is whispered from our lips.
How do you describe a love like this? Could He be the Messiah? Is He standing at the well of your life today, offering you at drink of living water?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
Faith UMC -
Help me trust you enough, Jesus, to drink living water and give You my heart today. Amen.
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© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
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