I ended last time with the statement, "I want to be willing to pass through Samaria." And this leads me to what I believe is a common deception. I want to look at a number of lies that people believe which are exposed in this story.
The first one comes out as Jesus begins His encounter with the woman coming to draw water. Her response to His request is very blunt. "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?" Does God set boundaries on who He will love? Unfortunately, there are many who believe the answer to this question is "Yes." Just like the disciples, there are "believers" who think so, and therefore they also limit who they will express God's love to. Verse 27 tells us that the disciples "marveled that He had been speaking with a woman;" We begin to classify people, putting them in categories of how deserving of God's favor they are. Then there are those like the woman who think, "I'm not worthy of God's love." They may have arrived at this conclusion on their own, or as a result of some interaction with believers. There is a partial truth in this, but the bottom line is none of us are worthy of God's love. He does not love us based on our worthiness. He loves us because it is part of His character. "God is love." 1 John 4:8, and if I am going to make the claim that I know God, love needs to become part of my character as well.
So the question I would ask today is, "Am I willing to love like Jesus?" Let's grow in our understanding of God's amazing love, and allow the love of Christ to control us. 2 Cor. 5:14
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
A Beginning
It seems that transitions in life have a way of causing us to pause and reflect. I've been doing quite a bit of reflecting over the last year. It has been a time of learning and growth, a time of recognizing a need for change.
Now, transition has come in a big way. As I continue to reflect and look ahead, I thought it might be an opportunity to share what God is teaching me through a blog. And whether or not anyone reads it, at least writing out my thoughts will help to solidify them and keep me thinking about them.
You may be asking, "Why going though Samaria?" That's a great question. I have spent a lot of time meditating on John's account of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well in Sychar. One aspect that has always intrigued me is the statement, "And He had to pass through Samaria." Now all students of the bible know that physically Jesus would have had options, yet it says He had to go through Samaria. I believe in divine appointments. Jesus had one that day sitting by a well in a country most of His countrymen would have avoided. You and I have them as well. The question is, "Am I willing to go where the appointment may be?" I know in my own life there have been times when I've resisted certain paths. I want to be done with that. I want to be willing to pass through Samaria.
More next time!
Now, transition has come in a big way. As I continue to reflect and look ahead, I thought it might be an opportunity to share what God is teaching me through a blog. And whether or not anyone reads it, at least writing out my thoughts will help to solidify them and keep me thinking about them.
You may be asking, "Why going though Samaria?" That's a great question. I have spent a lot of time meditating on John's account of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well in Sychar. One aspect that has always intrigued me is the statement, "And He had to pass through Samaria." Now all students of the bible know that physically Jesus would have had options, yet it says He had to go through Samaria. I believe in divine appointments. Jesus had one that day sitting by a well in a country most of His countrymen would have avoided. You and I have them as well. The question is, "Am I willing to go where the appointment may be?" I know in my own life there have been times when I've resisted certain paths. I want to be done with that. I want to be willing to pass through Samaria.
More next time!
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