John 4:27-42 Come and See

John 4:27-42 NIV
So what did this "woman" at the well do in response to Jesus knowing all about her and still inviting her to drink of the water of life?  She went and told. She told them to come and see for themselves.

So when was the last time you told anyone to "come and see?" When was the last time you invited anyone to come and hear for yourself; come and drink from the water of life; come and meet the Savior of the world? It's about time, isn't it?

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 4:1-26 Jesus Knows and Still Invites

John 4:1-26 NIV
Five husbands?! Who could endure that? Who would even consider that today? I imagine there are a few, but the percentage of women who want to learn to live with five different men in one lifetime is probably pretty low. Of course, in Jesus' day, women were not much more than property. They needed a man to care for them or they would not survive. If not a husband, then a son or other male relative would care for them.

This woman not only has had five husbands, she now is living with a man who is not her husband and just as bad (according to many Jews), she is a Samaritan. They were not considered to be equal with the Jews, by the Jews. Samaritans were people to be avoided.

Jesus knows all this. He knows she is a sinner. He knows she is a Samaritan. Yet, he communicates with her. He asks her for a drink of water and invites her to ask him for a drink of the living water which only he can provide. Jesus does not shun her. He does not shun anyone. All are invited to drink of this cup of living water. Will you? Will you drink of the cup of life? Will you worship in Spirit and in the truth?


God's Peace - Pr. J

Zechariah 8 - Come With Me

"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, the inhabitants of many cities; the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, 'Come, let us go to entreat the favor of the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going.'" (Zech 8:20-21 NIV)

"Come, with me. Let us seek the LORD together." When was the last time you heard words like this? When was the last time you offered this invitation to anyone?  The LORD offers peace to all people, but who will receive it? There are Christians who would look down on others who do not worship the LORD; thereby, breaking any possible bonds of peace between themselves and others. Rather than look down on those who do not know the LORD; how about an attempt or two or more to help them get to know the LORD? Invite them to worship so that they might hear the Word; that others might hear and believe and we might live in peace, reconciled to God and one another.

St Paul wrote to the Romans: "But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?  And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ." (Rom 10:14-17)

How are they to believe, if they do not hear? We can all be evangelists; inviting our neighbors to come with us to seek the LORD of hosts so that all people might know Him and be reconciled to Him and one other in His peace.

Invite your neighbor to worship, so that they too might know the promises and the joy that those promises bring.

God's Peace - Pr. J