Author: admin

The familiar often blinds us to the profound. God often chooses to work in our lives through the most ordinary of instruments. However, we tend to think that if God is going to do something in our world, He will use spectacular means to accomplish it.

That is why prophets are not without honor except from their hometown. We cannot imagine that God would do a great work through someone we went to school with! Our ordinary town or church seems an unlikely place for God to do a spectacular work. So, we don’t anticipate it or watch for it.

The Son of God returned to the region where He had grown up. What a privilege it was for those ordinary townspeople to have the Son of God spend time in their midst! The problem was that they knew Him. Though Jesus had always been an outstanding young man, no one could imagine Him being the actual Messiah. If Jesus had been born in Rome or Greece, or Babylon, then perhaps He might have generated more interest. But since these people knew Him as a child, they missed the profound reality that God Himself was walking among them.

Could it be that you are missing the divine activity around you because it seems too familiar?

The working of God in our midst is never based on our timetable. We do not instruct God on when He will work or what He will do. That is entirely his prerogative. All we can do is to make the most of His visitations.

The Samaritans had been so deeply impacted by Jesus that they begged Him to stay longer in their midst. He remained two additional days. What did the people do in that time? How much time did they spend with Jesus? How many questions did they ask? Were there any miracles performed? What could Jesus accomplish in two days in any place?

The Samaritans might have assumed that Jesus was staying for a month, or perhaps permanently. But He only remained two days. Jesus had much still to do and many places still to preach. He had graciously granted the Samaritans two additional days. How tragic it would have been to squander that time! What if some of the villagers assumed they had plenty of time to stop by and visit with Jesus? What if certain business people waited until their work was done before coming to see Jesus? How tragic to have Jesus working in your community and yet you miss it.

When Jesus does a fresh work in our life or church, we cannot assume that work will continue forever. Divine visitations are profoundly special moments. They ought to immediately take center stage. Every other activity and commitment should be swiftly set aside. Savor every moment you have with Jesus. You have no guarantee how long it will last.

There are times when we must help people to believe. They are disoriented to Christ. They are unaware of their profound need. They would continue to stumble in the darkness if we did not intervene and introduce them to Christ.

Nevertheless, at some point our goal should be for people to take what we have handed to them and make it their own. We cannot believe for people. We can simply usher them into the place of faith.

The woman at the well inspired people to search out Jesus for themselves. When they did, they came to believe on their own and not because of the woman at the well. At times we might wish that we could have faith for our wayward child or doubting friend, but we cannot. We can only introduce them to Jesus.

But hopefully at some point they will come to develop their own convictions and faith so that they no longer need to rely upon us in order to believe. What joy there is when people no longer rely upon us but upon their own experience with Christ.

Jesus did not linger with people who had no use for Him. If He annoyed people or made them angry, He departed.

But this village grew to love Him. They could not hear Him speak enough. They begged Him to remain with them. So He did. At times we do not have more of God’s presence because we do not desire it more.

Jesus could not remain with the villagers indefinitely. He had a mission still to perform. But He did mange to prolong His time with them because of their warm reception to Him and His words.

What kind of response does Jesus receive when He comes to us? Are we distracted? Do we grow impatient to be moving on to the next item on our agenda? Or do we long for Him to remain with us so we can abide in him?

Jesus knows our heart. He recognizes those who thoroughly enjoy His presence. He will linger with those who grieve at His departure.

Nothing has the life-transforming power of the word of God. It alone can transform a life. God personally stands as a guarantor of everything written in the Bible. But God has another instrument that wields great influence for His kingdom as well. That is your testimony. When you convey to others, in your own words, what God has done in your life, the Holy Spirit can accomplish much. While your words might not be eloquent, and your theological understanding might be limited, no one can refute your experience. People might argue with your conclusions, but it is difficult to negate your experience.

That is why we must share what God has done in our life with as many people as possible. The woman at the well had little credibility with the townspeople where she lived. Yet everyone who saw her could tell that she had undergone a life-changing experience. Even those who have been shunned by society can offer their testimony in service to Christ.

When the woman recalled for others what Jesus had done in her life, an entire village turned to Christ. She preached no sermon. She taught no lessons. She simply told others what Jesus had done for her. That was enough. Revival came. Is there someone with whom you could share your testimony today?

The work of God is not a solitary effort. God does not appoint lone rangers to build His kingdom. Every person has a role to play. Our work simply builds on those who have gone before us. We may be reaping, but someone else sowed. We may only have the privilege to sow, but someone later will enjoy a harvest because of our labor.

We ought not disparage the work of others on behalf of our Lord. While they might not do things in the same manner we would, they serve the same King. They are building the same kingdom. We would be wise to appreciate the efforts others have made before us and will make after us.

You may also be encouraged that you do not labor alone. Though there might not be anyone working right next to you, there are millions of kingdom citizens who have the same goal as you. They are fighting the same enemy. They have the same commitments and face the identical temptations. You are not alone!

Take time to rejoice with the victories of your fellow laborers. Their victories are your victories. Their setbacks are yours. You, and every other Christian, are in the journey together.

It is amazing the difference a perspective can make! Jesus’ disciples saw a closed community, resistant to the Gospel. Jesus viewed the same community as wide open and ripe for a harvest. Who was right? Jesus of course.

At times we can look for the wrong things when trying to determine how close the harvest is. We can be deceived by peoples’ outward appearance and behavior. We can focus on numbers. We can check our finances. We can pay too much attention to our critics. Eventually we can conclude that the place where we serve is far from being ready for a great work of God to occur. But the truth is that we never know the truth of our situation until we have heard from Jesus.

Jesus was one conversation away from a widespread revival. It was far closer than the disciples could have imagined. And, it was among a people who had seemed far from God with little hope of being brought near.

Are you currently praying for God to do a fresh work in someone’s life? Are you longing for revival for your church or community? Take heart. The harvest may be nearer than you think.

Jesus was motivated in ways far beyond what often drives His followers. The disciples had one thing on their minds at this point in the day: food! They were hungry, and when they were late for a meal, nothing else seemed important.

Jesus was always driven differently. It was not that He did not have the same physical appetites and needs as His followers, it is just that His appetite to serve His Father dwarfed any other desire He had in His life. He was so consumed with pleasing His Father that His physical appetites were soon forgotten.

Sadly, we are often just the opposite. We are too readily driven by our physical needs so that we neglect our spiritual calling. We may have begun with the noblest of intentions to serve our Lord, but our physical needs soon take center stage and drive God and His purposes out of our thoughts. We too easily allow our physical appetites to drown out God’s work in our lives.

Jesus found great satisfaction in doing His Father’s will. Do you?

Jesus was always surprising people. He was never what they expected. Even Jesus’ own twelve disciples were continually marveling at their Teacher. Just when they thought they understood Him, He would do something else that caught them entirely by surprise.

It was commonly understood that men did not converse with women in public. To an even greater degree, pious men never related to immoral women, under any circumstance. The disciples knew that Jesus was a rising religious leader. He had a reputation to nurture and protect. He had absolutely nothing to gain, and much to lose, by conversing with this notoriously wicked woman. But there He was, in broad daylight, talking with a woman as if she were respectable.

Though the disciples were shocked at the sight, no one challenged Him. Perhaps they felt too scandalized or embarrassed. Perhaps they had learned that questioning Jesus usually resulted in the disciple being taught another humbling lesson. Or, perhaps they wondered if, once again, they had got it all wrong. These men may have suspected that much of what they had been taught to be true, was indeed false.

Is God presently doing something that has you puzzled? Is He working in ways that you find difficult to understand? Has God’s activity around you challenged things you have always been taught? If so, don’t be surprised. Jesus has been confounding His followers for over 2,000 years.

Our lives experience moments of spiritual insight and breakthroughs that dramatically lurch us forward in our spiritual maturity. Such was this moment with the woman at the well. Previously she had known something about theology, but now she had a glimmer of insight into the Son of God.

Before, this woman had discussed concepts about God, now she was speaking face to face with Him. There is a world of difference! As she conversed with Jesus, her eyes were gradually opened to the profound reality of God’s presence in her life. This was no ordinary discussion!

Christ wants to enter such conversations with you. As you present your thoughts and questions to Him, He will gradually help you gain a clearer vision of Him. He will not allow you to remain merely in the world of speculation. He will move you into a clearer and deeper understanding of Himself. Ultimately theology is not speculation on doctrines, but an understanding of the truths of God Himself.

Never stop short of Christ! Don’t merely read books about God for your information, but always for your transformation. Don’t simply inform Christ of your doctrinal beliefs. Listen for His response. One word from Christ to your life can change everything!