When Jesus arrived at Jacob’s well in Samaria, He rested while His disciples went into town for supplies. While they were gone, He struck up a life-transforming conversation with a Samaritan woman. When His disciples returned with food, she left her water jar and ran back to town to tell the townspeople who once shunned her about her encounter.
Why? Had she concluded that the disciples had not told them that the Messiah was at their doorstep? Did she go back because she could not imagine letting her people miss out on this chance to meet Him?
And what was it about her testimony that drew the crowd to the well? Did they hear the joy she felt upon hearing that Jesus offered her an eternal, abundant life with God despite knowing all about her shameful past? Did they sense the depth of grace and love she had experienced in His presence? Did her words help them understand that Messiah cared about them, and not just about the Jews?
Whatever the reason, this woman who had just met Jesus, impacted the town in a way the disciples who had followed Jesus for weeks had not done — simply by sharing what she had just discovered about Jesus.
Sometimes, the greatest hindrance to sharing our faith is not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of belief in the fact that the people around us want to know Him. Is that true for you, or will you be as bold as the woman at the well?
Father, I want to care enough about the people in my town to go tell them that Jesus has come for them. Help me to see the people around me as thirsting for God, the living God, so that I take the initiative to joyfully invite them to come and discover Jesus with me, just like this Samaritan woman did. Amen.
Throught This Day — Dare to share. As you go about your daily tasks today, ask God to show you opportunities to invite people to come to know Jesus.
Photo Credit: Andreas Selter