Living Water
“If we’re willing to follow Jesus' example, we can be used by God to change the world.”
John 4:4-15 (ESV)
And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”
Reflection
I am the woman at the well. At times throughout my life, I’ve felt like an outcast, unwanted, defined by my mistakes, self-conscience, unforgiven, and the list goes on. I think it’s safe to say you’ve felt similarly about yourself before, too. You’re also the wo(man) at the well.
But just like in today’s passage, Jesus sat and spoke to me. He didn’t stand above me, looking down, reminding me of all my mistakes. Instead, He offered me His living water. Slowly, He picked away at the graffiti word-covered wall I had built around myself by sending His people to love me, giving me hope and encouragement, redefining who I am, and revealing that His message of hope and salvation is not limited to a chosen few, but for all who are willing to receive it.
However, as we reflect on this exchange, ask yourself, "What would it be like to be in Jesus' position?" What would it be like to sit and talk with someone who has made many mistakes and who feels unworthy of our love? What would it be like to offer them living water?
When we put ourselves in Jesus' situation, we can see that He’s openly willing to meet people where they are, regardless of their background or beliefs. He’s willing to sit and offer them His love and forgiveness, even when they don't deserve it.
To put oneself in Jesus’ position can be a challenge. We often want to judge people based on their past mistakes. But Jesus shows us that we should never give up on anyone. We should always be willing to offer them our love and forgiveness, just as Jesus did for us.
If we’re willing to follow Jesus' example, we can be used by God to change the world. You may not feel qualified, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that you’re willing. God isn’t limited by your qualifications. He can use you to bring the living water to anyone who is thirsty. Just as Jesus saw beyond the Samaritan woman's past, He sees beyond our failures, weaknesses, and limitations. When God calls us, it’s an invitation to rely on Him completely. We may not have all the answers, but He does. We may not feel equipped, but He is our Provider. We may not fully comprehend His plans, but we can trust that they are good and purposeful.
Let’s embrace the truth that we are the wo(man) at the well. We have all experienced feelings of unworthiness, mistakes, and the weight of our failures. Yet, just as Jesus sat and spoke with us, offering us His living water, He calls us to do the same for others.
Action Steps
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your love and forgiveness. Thank You for seeing me beyond my failures and loving me unconditionally. Help me to be like You and be willing to meet people where they are, offering love and forgiveness, just as You did for me. I may not feel equipped, but I’m willing and I know You’ll provide what’s needed. It’s in Your precious name I pray, amen.
And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”
Reflection
I am the woman at the well. At times throughout my life, I’ve felt like an outcast, unwanted, defined by my mistakes, self-conscience, unforgiven, and the list goes on. I think it’s safe to say you’ve felt similarly about yourself before, too. You’re also the wo(man) at the well.
But just like in today’s passage, Jesus sat and spoke to me. He didn’t stand above me, looking down, reminding me of all my mistakes. Instead, He offered me His living water. Slowly, He picked away at the graffiti word-covered wall I had built around myself by sending His people to love me, giving me hope and encouragement, redefining who I am, and revealing that His message of hope and salvation is not limited to a chosen few, but for all who are willing to receive it.
However, as we reflect on this exchange, ask yourself, "What would it be like to be in Jesus' position?" What would it be like to sit and talk with someone who has made many mistakes and who feels unworthy of our love? What would it be like to offer them living water?
When we put ourselves in Jesus' situation, we can see that He’s openly willing to meet people where they are, regardless of their background or beliefs. He’s willing to sit and offer them His love and forgiveness, even when they don't deserve it.
To put oneself in Jesus’ position can be a challenge. We often want to judge people based on their past mistakes. But Jesus shows us that we should never give up on anyone. We should always be willing to offer them our love and forgiveness, just as Jesus did for us.
If we’re willing to follow Jesus' example, we can be used by God to change the world. You may not feel qualified, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that you’re willing. God isn’t limited by your qualifications. He can use you to bring the living water to anyone who is thirsty. Just as Jesus saw beyond the Samaritan woman's past, He sees beyond our failures, weaknesses, and limitations. When God calls us, it’s an invitation to rely on Him completely. We may not have all the answers, but He does. We may not feel equipped, but He is our Provider. We may not fully comprehend His plans, but we can trust that they are good and purposeful.
Let’s embrace the truth that we are the wo(man) at the well. We have all experienced feelings of unworthiness, mistakes, and the weight of our failures. Yet, just as Jesus sat and spoke with us, offering us His living water, He calls us to do the same for others.
Action Steps
- What are some of the things that you have done in your life that you regret? How do you feel about these failures?
- Ask God to help you see yourself through His eyes. Ask Him to help you see your failures as He sees them, and to help you understand His love and forgiveness for you.
- Be willing to meet people where they are. Talk to people who are different from you and who have made mistakes in their lives. Be willing to offer them your love and forgiveness, just as Jesus does.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your love and forgiveness. Thank You for seeing me beyond my failures and loving me unconditionally. Help me to be like You and be willing to meet people where they are, offering love and forgiveness, just as You did for me. I may not feel equipped, but I’m willing and I know You’ll provide what’s needed. It’s in Your precious name I pray, amen.
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