The Gift of God
Jesus often approaches people with asking them a question. In John 4:7 Jesus approached a Samaritan woman and asked, “Will you give me drink?”. Jesus crossed over boundaries and He reached out to a woman who Jews would never communicate with. Jews hated the Samaritans so it was shocking to everyone that Jesus would engage in a conversation with her.
As I was reading this portion of scripture I began to see two different perspectives: the woman and Jesus. Each one reflects two different kingdoms. Humans are earthly minded and Jesus is spiritually minded. Let’s take a moment and break this down.
Jesus said “If you only knew the gift God has for you”. A gift, something given voluntarily without payment in return. This gift is what Jesus was trying to give her.
The woman at the well was looking with her earthly eyes. She was logical and practical. Jesus asked for a drink and she was looking at her circumstances and responded, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?” Her eyes were set on what was before her, a deep well with no way to access the water. She sat perplexed wondering how on earth could she give this man a drink?!
Jesus's perspective is always heavenly minded; He speaks in spiritual terms. He looks at the well and tells the women that anyone that goes to that well will be thirsty again but anyone who comes to Jesus for "the living water" will never thirst again. In other words, Jesus was referencing the source for the water. The women was looking at the well to get satisfied yet Jesus was offering something more, something deeply satisfying, something eternal… a source that will always meet her needs. That source is the Spirit of the living God. Jesus went on to say, “but those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” v 13-14 Jesus was lifting her eyes to seek Him and not the things that was before her. He was sharing with her the gift of God, the only thing that will satisfy her.
As they had this discussion about the water source, Jesus continued to get personal. Not surprising because we serve a personal God. He spoke about her current relationships and a past history lesson. Jesus had her attention. Wait a minute, how do you know this about ME, she wondered. She was immediately convinced that He must be a prophet. I can only picture her posture at this moment, leaning in towards Him, captivated that He knew so much about her private life. It is at this moment that Jesus mentions something that is critical… worship.
“But a time is coming and is already here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit [from the heart, the inner self] and in truth: for the Father seeks such people to be His worshippers. God is spirit [the Source of Life, yet invisible to mankind], and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24
The Father is seeking true worshippers. Let that sink in… When we accept The Gift of God our natural reaction should be praise and worship. Worship is all about your heart posture. When the Samaritan woman experienced this personal God it changed her. It changed her so much her reaction was to share Him with others. She left her jar and went into the city to tell everyone what He did in her life. “Come and See a man who told me all things that I have done! Can this be the Christ?” This women went to her community and shared her story. The story that not only changed her life but impacted others…
“Now many Samaritans from the city believed in Him and trusted Him because of what the women said when she testified, “He told me all the things I have done” v 39.
The Father pursues us. He meets us in a personal way, often times in our mess. Our circumstances may seem impossible and overwhelming. We look at them practically and logically try to fix them ourselves. As you may be ruminating on a present problem, maybe even this morning with your cup of coffee, you may feel a nudge from Jesus. He may approach you with a question. He may speak a verse that will give you strength in your weakness, He may provide peace in the middle of the storm. It looks different for each of us because He is a personal God. But once He speaks and shows up in unexpected ways… it can change you. He is changing your eye sight, reminding you to look to Him as the source. The source of life, peace, wisdom, direction, and comfort. When you turn your eyes to Him and not your circumstances, that is when it gets really personal. When He gets personal it tugs on your heart. It changes your heart posture. Your weighted down heart becomes a thankful one. When your heart changes, you don’t only feel the difference internally but others start to notice it externally. Then you find yourself just like the samaritan woman, sharing how Jesus can change everything.
Our stories matter. Sharing our stories can change lives. It is our story that is knit into His greater story that can be the invitation for others to learn about this Gift. Never under estimate the power of your story. That is the backbone of our CAYA events. I know God will be speaking through everyone. Calling them, wooing them as we are reaching out to our communities saying, Come and See ….
xo,
k
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