Last week was our Friends and Family Day. I wanted to write a quick thank you to everyone who worked to make this annual event a success. There were many people who labored behind the scenes to prepare and serve as well as everyone who did their part inviting their loved ones to church. I want to express my gratitude to all of you for what you've done and pray that we will be steadfast in our work in the Lord’s vineyard.
I would like to share with you one of my favorite passages when it comes to sharing Jesus with our neighbors. In John 4 it is recorded that Jesus was traveling through a region of Palestine named Samaria. History tells us that these people had much in common with the Jews, but they were not pure Israelites. The common Jew of Jesus’ day would not have anything to do with them because of this. Jesus approached a woman (a social taboo of the day) during the noon-time heat of the day and asked her for water. This simple request became a conversation starter about spiritual things. Jesus then revealed to her through his omniscience that He was a prophet. From that revelation, the Samaritan woman asked Him a question that must have been on her mind often. Jesus then gives her revelation that her question was a good one because we still use that information to understand worship today (John 4:24). Jesus then revealed that He was the Christ, the Anointed One of God. When she heard this she left her water pot (her original intention for going to the well) and told the men of the city what just happened to her. From her testimony the whole city came out to meet Jesus (John 4:30).
One of the most remarkable things about this account is the end: “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them:and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying:for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world (John 4:39-42).
This is a wonderful example for all of us. We don't need to wait until next year to have the chance to invite someone to hear about Jesus. We can take that opportunity every time it presents itself. May God bless us as we go through life sowing the Seed (Luke 8:11).