February 21, 2016
Scripture:
Scripture:
Hymn 308 - I love to hear the story
Prayer
Today’s story is the record of the longest conversation anyone had with Jesus. It’s the story of the woman at the well.
John 4: 1-14
At the beginning of this chapter, we find out that Jesus didn’t baptize, but His disciples did. He was on His way to Galilee. Galilee is above Judea, with Samaria in between them. Now, you could go around Samaria, but it would be two more days travel if you were walking. It says, though, that, “He must needs go through Samaria.” He wanted to talk to the woman. He had an appointment set up with her that she didn’t even know about yet. Jesus does the same for us. He meets us when we don’t expect it and sheds His light on life.
In Samaria, there was a city called Sychar, which was near Jacob’s well. A well holds water. In Bible times they didn’t have a way of bringing that water to the house by pipes. The woman would have to walk out of the city with her pitcher to get water, and then carry it back to her house. She would have to use it sparingly in whatever she did.
Jesus was tired from the long walk. They arrived at the city around noon, and Jesus sat down on the well. It doesn’t seem as if it was too long before the woman came along. She recognized that He was a Jew, so she just went about her business of getting water. The Jews and Samaritans didn’t really have anything to do with each other. They were at odds with what they believed. All of a sudden, Jesus said to her, “Give me to drink.” The woman was surprised, and asked why on earth He was talking to her. She didn’t say, “Just a minute, I’m getting some water here.” She already had the conversation completely off topic.
There were many differences between the two of them. He was a Jew, she was a Samaritan; He was a man, she was a woman; He was sinless, and she was sinful. Jesus channeled the conversation back to topic. HE now offered to give HER something to drink. He told her, “If you knew who I was and the gift of God; you would ask and I would give you living water.”
She became a little confused. Jesus didn’t have a rope or a pitcher. So she asked Him, “Are you greater then our Father, Jacob?” He told her that whoever drank that water would thirst again. She probably thought, “True. I was here yesterday and the day before. The walk seems longer and the well seems deeper”. Jesus told her, “With my water, you will never thirst again.” She might have thought then, “You mean I’ll never have to came back to this well?”
Jesus talked about a well within us. It was a different water and a different thirst. They began with the physical and now they are talking about her soul and spirit.
We will continue this story next time.
Philippians 1:27-30, 2:1-4
Paul didn’t get to choose what would happen to him, but he thought it’d be best for him to stay alive so that he could be useful to the saints. He hoped to be out of prison soon, and to go visit the Philippians.
Meanwhile, the Philippians were to live in a way that became the gospel: to live in a way that was consistent with it. Your life will either enhance or detract from the word you speak. It will either attract others to Christ, or be a denial of Him. We are to adorn the gospel. It’s a searching passage!
Paul wanted to hear that the Philippians were fixed and stood fast in the gospel. They were to be one in mind, one in spirit, and to strive together. The Lord is dishonoured when there is division among believers; it’s something that we need to over come. It’s important to agree with each other on the doctrines to we hold.
As we live the Christian life, we will have enemies; but we shouldn’t be afraid of them. There is a day of destruction coming for the enemies of Christ, but a day of salvation for us. These believers had been given to suffer for Christ, and as Christians we can expect opposition, too. Paul, however, makes it sound like a privilege to suffer for Christ! The Philippians had seen him suffer in prison in Philippi, and now in the prison in Rome.
Continuing with chapter 2, the word “if” can be replaced with the word “since”. There was no uncertainty in Paul’s mind that in Christ there was consolation, love, etc. It’s precious to have these blessings. Other religions require endless giving; do this, commit to that, pray at such a time, etc. For us, Christ meets us where we are, and satisfies the needs of our hearts.
God has revealed Himself in many and big ways. Other religions need a god they can understand; but we cannot comprehend our God. Take the Trinity, for instance. As humans, we are one being, and one person. God, though, is one being, and yet three persons! However, even though He is limitless, He reaches down and helps us. He has built into us basic human needs: love, comfort, mercy, fellowship, etc; and He is the One that will meet them. The unsaved don’t have that, but we have all in Christ. That’s special; may we value it, and never give it up.
Hymn 332 - Christ the Saviour of sinners came
Prayer