Hello everybody! I apologize for the absence, and am grateful to the Father for providing the time this afternoon to write and share my thoughts.
Today the topic of conversation is Jesus' dialogue with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. If you are not familiar with the passage of scripture, please take the time to read and meditate on this section of God's word before reading further. While reading, keep in mind how these verse are applicable to our conversations with unbelievers in the home, neighborhood, workplace, and the other various locations where people gather and interact.
-Finished reading? Then let us begin!-
The first aspect of the dialogue I want to draw your attention to is Jesus' initiative. Without waiting for the Samaritan woman to speak, Jesus takes the responsibility of initiating the conversation. Unfortunately, we often avoid the topic of religion and faith with our family, friends, or colleagues until they initiate the conversation, but when talking with the woman, Jesus establishes the precedent for Christians to begin gospel-centered conversations. Now initiating conversations about faith is definitely intimidating, but rest in the promise of God that "...our sufficiency is from God, who made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" [2 Corinthians 3:5-6].
During the passage Jesus also expresses His compassion through His willingness to answer the woman's questions and concerns. One thing is required to address the questions and concerns of our peers, knowledge of our faith. Equipping ourselves with the knowledge of Christ is to "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..." [Colossians 3:16]. Meditate on scripture daily, apply it to life, and grow in understanding of Christ and His gospel.
In addition to answering the woman's questions, Jesus repeatedly draws the conversation back to the necessity of salvation through faith in Him ["If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." -and- "The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:10, 14). Unbelievers we talk to today may direct the conversation past the gospel of Jesus to topics like divisive issues in society. And although other topics are beneficial to discuss [in light of the gospel], stressing first and foremost the truth of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus alone [Ephesians 2:8-9 and John 14:6] needs to be our focus when engaging with an unbeliever in a conversation about faith.
Jesus also leads the Samaritan woman to repentance when in John 4:16-17 He told her to, "Go, call your husband, and come here" and she answered, "I have no husband," revealing her sin. Talking about eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ without discussing the need to confess and repent of sin is an incomplete gospel. In Romans 10:10 the apostle Paul states, "For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." We all need to confess that we "have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" [Romans 3:23] before we step into the freedom of forgiveness by grace through Jesus Christ.
Before we end the conversation let me direct your attention quickly to two more lessons from the passage. First, Jesus broke cultural boundaries when talking to the Samaritan woman. Scripture says in John 4:9 that "...Jews had no dealings with Samaritans." Sometimes sharing the gospel will remove us from our comfort zones and draw us into fellowship with people different from us. Second, in John 4:6 the Bible states Jesus was wearied by His journey. Despite being exhausted, Jesus knew He had an opportunity to lead the Samaritan woman to salvation. In both liveliness and weariness, let us abandon our personal needs and comforts for the glory of God and the salvation of others.
Well, here concludes my thoughts and reflections for today, I pray God challenges and encourages you after reading this as He has graciously challenged an encouraged me. And despite how ill-equipped to share the gospel you may feel, remember God's promise: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness" [2 Corinthians 12:9]
Love you guys.
