Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:14.
When Jesus sat down to rest at Jacob’s well, He had come from Judea, where His ministry had produced little fruit…. He was faint and weary; yet He did not neglect the opportunity of speaking to one woman, though she was a stranger, an alien from Israel, and living in open sin.
As the woman talked with Jesus, she was impressed with His words…. She realized her soul thirst, which the waters of the well of Sychar could never satisfy. Nothing that had hitherto come in contact with her had so awakened her to a higher need. Jesus had convinced her that He read the secrets of her life; yet he felt that He was her friend, pitying and loving her. While the very purity of His presence condemned her sin, He had spoken no word of denunciation, but had told her of His grace, that could renew the soul….
Leaving her waterpot, she returned to the city, to carry the message to others…. With heart overflowing with gladness, she hastened on her way, to impart to others the precious light she had received.
“Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did,” she said to the men of the city. “Is not this the Christ?” Her words touched their hearts. There was a new expression on her face, a change in her whole appearance. They were interested to see Jesus.
As soon as she had found the Saviour the Samaritan woman brought others to Him. She proved herself a more effective missionary than His own disciples…. Their thoughts were fixed upon a great work to be done in the future. They did not see that right around them was a harvest to be gathered. But through the woman whom they despised, a whole cityful were brought to hear the Saviour….
This woman represents the working of a practical faith in Christ. Every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary. He who drinks of the living water becomes a fountain of life. The receiver becomes a giver.
Conflict and Courage p. 294
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Prayer Requests
—–Prayer request for Merrick. He will be 2 yrs old on June 15, next Thursday. He is in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at _____.Merrick was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at 8 weeks old. Parents were told life expectancy is only 50% by age 2. . . .He has recently been very sick, and for this to happen right before his 2nd birthday is very scary and emotionally very difficult. Joyce
—–Please pray for my son – he had surgery this morning. I was thrilled that he let me pray with him this morning. This was great since he questions the existence of God. Vicki
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Dear Friends,
Esther has an English Cocker spaniel named Jack that is at least ten years old. He is such a sweet dog and so good with the children. He has a couple of bad habits, however, that cause him great pain. He loves to chase rabbits, cats, squirrels, or any other little critter he happens to see. When he was younger, that was not a problem, but now that he is getting older, he is starting to have trouble with his joints. Rabbit chasing causes him to have to take medicine from the vet and to limp around painfully for days. Rather than realize what his trouble is and stop doing it, just as soon as he is feeling better he will go back to his chasing ways.
How often we are like Jack. Some little forbidden pleasure can cause us heartache and pain, yet we do it over and over again. Like Jack, we seem unable to reason from cause to effect. Over and over we fall into the same sin and suffer for it. We are as Solomon observed, “As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.” Peter agrees, “The dog is turned to his own vomit again and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:22
Jeremiah tells us that our Heavenly Father “doth not afflict willingly nor grieve that children of men.” Lam 3:33. So true. Like Jack, most of our problems stem from our own doing. Like Jack, we suffer because we refuse to change. Our dear Saviour pleads with us, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Eze 33:11
May we turn from those old habits and sins that cause us pain and trouble. May we “put off the former conversation [conduct] the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” by which we are tempted by the enemy of souls. Eph 4:22 May we determine to “walk in newness of life”is my prayer. Romans 6:4
Rose
Confrontation at Jacob’s Well