Friday, August 14, 2009

Running After Christ is NOT Always Pretty!

Many of the Samaritans from the town believed in him because of the woman's testimony.
-John 4:39

What an incredible harvest after one woman's meeting with the Christ. You can tell by these results that she had Elohim in her eyes when she returned to the village. Her head was swarming with ideas of love, peace and hope, and there was no stopping her witness. She loved Christ madly! In my heart, I desire this insane passion for Christ. But what would it cost me? The same thing it cost her. If we back up to the process that brought the whole village to Christ, we see that it wasn't such a pretty thing.

1. Humility: v. 9-"You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" This woman doesn't even know she is looking at the Messiah. She only knows her role in society. As a Samaritan, she is below the Jews. As a woman, she is below men. I can't help but think her head hung low. She had been used, abused, and cast aside before. Now, she comes in contact with a man that everyone would say is above her on every chart that existed in society. She didn't know that today He would sit her hind feet on high places. Today, she would be made an heir to the Kingdom above all others. Right now, she only recognizes that she is low and he is high. Humility does that to us. We recognize that He is God and we are not. We don't put Him on the throne of our lives; He is already there! What we do is bow in reverence to that fact. Praying for Humility is a scary thing because it usually comes with brokenness. But how necessary that prayer is if we want to know Him today more than we did yesterday! Yesterday this woman didn't even know who Christ was, and today, she will make Him the Banner that she carries back to the village.

2. She sees her need: v. 15-"Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty." She had just gotten an earful of information about "Living Water." She heard it all straight from Messiah's mouth. Did she possess that water? No. She had to ask for it. This is true of Salvation and it is true of sanctification. We must ask for both! She asked for the Living Water of Salvation that day because she saw her need. The Holy Spirit had opened her eyes to the debt that sin brings. It is the same with sanctification-the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit to make us more like Christ after salvation has taken place. He wants us to be like Christ! He commands us to walk in holiness. We need his power to make that happen...ASK FOR IT! And then give Him the glory when He gives that power. He is Mighty to Save!

3. She comes face to face with her sin: v. 17 "I have no husband." she replied. Jesus said to her, "You are right that you have no husband. You have 5. And the man you now have is not your husband." Ouch! Her ugly truth comes out of his mouth and probably smacks her in the face. Has God ever done that with you? He has with me, very recently. He shows us our sin to bring us to repentance. That sin smothers the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot know God more or grow deeper in love with him. Confession should be a part of our daily lives. We should look to the blood of the cross not just as something that brings salvation, but also as something that brings about sanctification and hope for more of Him.

4. She was transparent in front of others: v. 39b-"He told me everything I ever did." She proclaims this to all of the Samaritans in the town. Chances are they already knew everything about her as well. She was probably the fountain from which every juicy piece of gossips came in that town. But just the act of saying it out loud lets the people see a transformation from her. Being transparent about your struggles and sin allows others to see that God came to seek and save the lost, not the squeaky clean.

A life transformed and then on display for a watching world to see. We want to be transformed, but do we want to be laid out as an example for others? Chances are, if we are put on display for others to see, the grace that will meet us under that spotlight will reveal a whole new side of the countenance of God, a side we would never have known if not for the brokenness and revealing of the Holy Spirit.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Putting down facebook and picking up Deuteronomy

So, there is this little-known addiction out there called Facebook. Anyone heard of it? Well, since the fb execs are smiling down at me and giving me a great wireless signal at my house, I've returned the favor by being facebook obsessed for the last 24 hours. This lets me know that I've definately made the right decision about NOT getting the internet at my house. I think that all of my self control would go out the window! Thankfully, I have a God who has bigger plans for my day than sitting on Facebook all day and waiting for my other "Teachers on Swine Vacay" friends to post something amusing. Today, I am seeking those plans above any other because I know that they are plans of hope, purpose, and a future. Those plans start with this blog. I've known for a while now that this was something that He wanted me to do, to speak truth, not of myself, but of Him, into people's lives. Somehow, I will trust that He will direct me as to what to write and will direct others to this spot in cyberspace to read what He says. I also want to use this blog to point out others who are writing about their own experiences with Christ in this world. I have been changed by reading these posts from the LPM website of Melissa's trip to India through Compassion Ministries. How humbling to think of what my desires are when these people are without everything! I also devour everything this guy writes about the Lord...incredible thoughts. And the list of 500 things Christians like is hilarious! Now I'm off to spend some time in my new favorite book, Deuteronomy.