While we waited for Ricky to being our breakfasts, Stan mentioned that he had received another picture from his traveling friend who takes pictures of things for them to talk about their faith. As I looked at the picture, I said to Stan, “What is that, a picture of a wishing well?”
“No, it’s not a wishing well,” Stan said with a smile, “but that could be a separate subject of how we can’t just wish someone into God’s kingdom!”
What’d you and your friend talk about?”
“How a woman at a well can be seen as a great commission story.”
“How so?”
“As you may remember, Jesus once encountered a Samaritan woman at a well. He talked to her about Him being living water. She then left and returned to her village where she told some people what had happened at the well.”
“Kind of like a personal testimony?”
“Yeah,” Stan replied, “I guess you could call it that. In any event, after the woman told the people about Jesus, they invited Him to stay with them in the village. Jesus spent a couple of days with them and then what happened can be seen as what’s supposed to happen with us and the great commission.”
“In what way?”
“After the people spent time with Jesus,” Stan replied, “they told the woman that they no longer believed because of what she had told them, but they believed because of what Jesus had to say. Isn’t that like the great commission, that we’re supposed to go into all the world with the truth of the gospel and then people are to spend time with Jesus?”
“I can see that,” I agreed. “We are to go and tell people about Jesus. They may say that they believe because of what we say, but their belief really has to be based on what Jesus says. Right?”
“Right you are, my friend,” Stan replied. “If we don’t go, there’s nothing anyone will ever hear from us. But when we do go, we’re to tell them about Jesus. They may listen to us, but they really have to listen to what He says!”
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Bible verses to consider:
And many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.” John 4:41-42.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17.
. . . fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, . . . . Hebrews 12:2.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life eternally with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t go anywhere to tell anyone about Jesus. Please forgive that foolish approach to living the new life you’ve given. Help me follow every step of your lead in going wherever and telling whoever about Jesus so they will listen to Him as the author and perfecter of their faith. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in His precious name. Amen.
Think on this: Have you listened to Jesus in the sense of accepting His finished work on the cross so you have life eternally with God, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with going and telling others about Jesus so they will listen to Him? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?
The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need so you go wherever He has for you to go and you tell whoever He has for you to tell about Him so they will listen to Him? Spend time on this in prayer, reflection, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!
Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?