The Power of a Redeemed Life
John 4:25-39 (NLT)
The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
Then Jesus told her, “I AM the Messiah!”
Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him.
Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.”
But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.”
“Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other.
Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”
Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!”
Reflection
Let me tell you a story about one night. Our daughter left the water running in the sink for over an hour, and the room flooded. The drawers were overflowing, and the standing water poured through the basement floor. I lost my temper and shouted angrily, which made me ashamed of my behavior.
I wanted to hide, embarrassed for my outburst. But I heard Jesus tell me to be humble, drop the pride, and apologize to my daughter. He told me all the things I did... "When he comes, he will explain everything to us” (verse 25).
I may have tried to hide from Jesus at that moment. He called me out and called me higher right then and there. He fully sees us. He knows our dirt. He sees our shame. He is aware of our guilt. And He's not walking away from us. Jesus fully sees what you carry inside you, and you're not dismissed from His good plans for your life. You are not disqualified for the calling God has placed on you. You're precisely who He wants to work in and flow through. Your life is the one He has chosen to glorify His name and carry His message. He has chosen you. You and your dirt!
We're like the Samaritan woman at the well. With our brokenness, we go to others. "Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did” (verse 29)!
She felt Jesus' love and was compelled to tell those in her city to come to the well and meet Jesus, even though He confronted her with her sin…everything I ever did.
As I stood against the overflowing sink that night, in the pit of my sin and brokenness, I also felt Jesus' love. I pray that I showed Jesus to my daughter that night by confessing my sin, repenting, owning my hot mess mom's behavior, and asking for forgiveness.
Jesus could list every sin you've ever committed. He knows it all, even the things no one else knows. He has seen it all. God knows everything about us, and He still loves us, wants to talk with us, wants to have a relationship with us, and draws us to Him. He wants to use our story, sins, and dirt to lead others to Him. That's the beautiful invitation; the people came when the woman at the well told them who Jesus was, and how He had impacted her life with their brief conversation.
How amazing is it that Jesus knows the facts of our lives yet loves us despite them? How amazing is it that He challenges us to share our brokenness, our imperfections, and His love through it all?
Action Steps
Share your story: Jesus knows everything about us, even the things that no one else knows. He loves us despite our faults, and wants to use our story to help others. Embrace your brokenness, imperfections and dirt, and share your experiences with those around you. By telling your story this week, you can inspire others and lead them to Jesus.
Prayer
Lord, I cannot hide from you. You know all the things in my whole heart. Use my brokenness, shame, guilt, and sin to further Your Kingdom. Give me the courage to share Your love with others. Use me as a vessel of Your love and grace. Help me to trust Your plans for my life. In Jesus' name, amen.
The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
Then Jesus told her, “I AM the Messiah!”
Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him.
Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.”
But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.”
“Did someone bring him food while we were gone?” the disciples asked each other.
Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”
Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!”
Reflection
Let me tell you a story about one night. Our daughter left the water running in the sink for over an hour, and the room flooded. The drawers were overflowing, and the standing water poured through the basement floor. I lost my temper and shouted angrily, which made me ashamed of my behavior.
I wanted to hide, embarrassed for my outburst. But I heard Jesus tell me to be humble, drop the pride, and apologize to my daughter. He told me all the things I did... "When he comes, he will explain everything to us” (verse 25).
I may have tried to hide from Jesus at that moment. He called me out and called me higher right then and there. He fully sees us. He knows our dirt. He sees our shame. He is aware of our guilt. And He's not walking away from us. Jesus fully sees what you carry inside you, and you're not dismissed from His good plans for your life. You are not disqualified for the calling God has placed on you. You're precisely who He wants to work in and flow through. Your life is the one He has chosen to glorify His name and carry His message. He has chosen you. You and your dirt!
We're like the Samaritan woman at the well. With our brokenness, we go to others. "Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did” (verse 29)!
She felt Jesus' love and was compelled to tell those in her city to come to the well and meet Jesus, even though He confronted her with her sin…everything I ever did.
As I stood against the overflowing sink that night, in the pit of my sin and brokenness, I also felt Jesus' love. I pray that I showed Jesus to my daughter that night by confessing my sin, repenting, owning my hot mess mom's behavior, and asking for forgiveness.
Jesus could list every sin you've ever committed. He knows it all, even the things no one else knows. He has seen it all. God knows everything about us, and He still loves us, wants to talk with us, wants to have a relationship with us, and draws us to Him. He wants to use our story, sins, and dirt to lead others to Him. That's the beautiful invitation; the people came when the woman at the well told them who Jesus was, and how He had impacted her life with their brief conversation.
How amazing is it that Jesus knows the facts of our lives yet loves us despite them? How amazing is it that He challenges us to share our brokenness, our imperfections, and His love through it all?
Action Steps
Share your story: Jesus knows everything about us, even the things that no one else knows. He loves us despite our faults, and wants to use our story to help others. Embrace your brokenness, imperfections and dirt, and share your experiences with those around you. By telling your story this week, you can inspire others and lead them to Jesus.
Prayer
Lord, I cannot hide from you. You know all the things in my whole heart. Use my brokenness, shame, guilt, and sin to further Your Kingdom. Give me the courage to share Your love with others. Use me as a vessel of Your love and grace. Help me to trust Your plans for my life. In Jesus' name, amen.
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