Lessons in the YES (Part 1)
What I’ve learned in saying “yes”—it automatically sets me up for some trials.
the YES is always worth it.
When I was about 48 years old, God began to stir my heart as I had never felt before. I had been a christian for many years—and had done many things to serve God inside the church walls—from toilets and trash--to the cemetery and grass. We had taught Sunday school for years and sang in the choir; nursing home ministry and often volunteering to help in various events. In venturing out into so many areas, I learned which ones I felt especially drawn to and continued.
We loved being at the church and with our family of believers. But this was the beginning of a new season and I felt Him calling me beyond the walls.
The real Church serves OUTSIDE the walls. He began showing me that.
Jesus gave us examples throughout His earthly life of "how-to-serve".
The story in the Bible of the "woman at the well" has drawn me more times than I can count for so many reasons--the biggest one I guess is that Pastor Danny Davis shared--under the anointing of the Holy Spirit her story on February 24, 2013, the day our oldest daughter gave her life back to God.
I talked about this woman on Saturday, October 12, at the Women's Conference in Bonifay, FL (at Northside Assembly of God). For time sake, I cut my notes down that day and shared what I felt God led me to share that afternoon.
So, let's go and read some of her story--and we will imagine what her life might have looked like --
reading in between the lines of time....
We find her in John, chapter 4. I picture her with a worn out- saddened expression. The beauty of her youth is still there--but her age and the grief and hardships she's lived with has dimmed the light in her once sparkling eyes.
So, we meet up with Jesus as He is leaving Judea headed to Galilee. He goes through Samaria to get there—and He is on a mission. He knows it but no one else does.
It’s hot…. He’s tired…so He sits down by the well. He’s waiting for His assignment.
Here she comes.
In my mind—I picture her walking hurriedly — big jar tucked up in her arms and she’s probably looking at the ground more than anything—because that was probably what she did more than hold her head up.
Coming at noon—was not the custom of the other ladies…no, she came at noon to avoid the other ladies. You know. The ones who probably “pointed and stared”…whispered about her and her latest sleeping partner….we will leave it right there.
But here she comes—and as she approaches, Jesus says to her—hey, would you give me a drink? He was there alone because the disciples had gone into town to get bread and sandwich meat…or PB&J.
She said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
In other words, if YOU knew who you were talking to…you’d be over here asking ME to give you water.
But she said right back to Him—well it don’t look like you came prepared to drink…you have nothing to draw with and THIS well is deep. Where can you get this “so called” Living water anyway?
Do you think you are better than our father JACOB who gave us this well in the first place??
But Jesus simply replied—
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. The WATER I will give will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
This would be a fountain of water that could NOT be contained. Well….of course—she wanted IN!
Give me this water—so I don’t have to keep coming back here—
What I think she was meaning was—she was tired of having to come in the heat of the day JUST to avoid those who were constantly talking about her…whether they were or not, she FELT it.
But Jesus said— “Run to the house and get your husband and come on back.”
I can see her face fall. Her eyes drop. Her chin quivers.
“I have no husband,”
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
With widening eyes—she told Him she thought He was a prophet.
Then they get into a discussion about where to worship. Her people worshiped there—but the Jews worshiped in Jerusalem. If He was INDEED a prophet—she wanted to know WHERE to worship.
“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
Right then—as the disciples are coming back—they see Jesus talking to her—and they see her turn on her heel—leaving her jar—still empty— as she hurries back to town and begins to tell everyone she runs into—this time—head up—not hanging down in shame—but knowing she has the BEST news to share she begins to tell them what just transpired—and those famous words: “Come see a man”…. And because of her testimony— MANY people came to know Him—not just because of her words….but they experienced HIM for themselves.
Friend....we have to be willing to let go --lay aside--our own imagination of what our lives should be like--and surrender to His design and plan.
What HE has purposed is always better than what we could imagine--
This unnamed woman didn't get up that morning with the notion that she would encounter the gift of salvation that day. She was just going to do her best to slide through the day without having to explain herself to anyone. She never dreamed that she would be running around actually choosing to talk to people.
An encounter with Christ will so drastically change your plans that you are suddenly willing to do what you would have otherwise never wanted to do.
A YES to Jesus will cause you to lay aside any plan you may have strategically written out for your life.
All those lists and plans you made? You will be quite ready to toss them in the trash--because your eyes will have caught a glimpse of the bigger picture....the lost.
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