Day 268: Our Next Unconventional Act: Our Witness Statements
Read: John 4:27 - 30
Well, as we dig deeper into the significance of this story, the Hallelujah's just keep on coming for the Samaritan woman, Jesus and the disciples who are just arriving from buying food at the market. Jesus has declared that He is the prophesied Messiah. She is probably close to lifting herself off the ground at what she has
just heard. With his Jesus’ declaration that He is the prophesied
Messiah the conversation has reached its summit, its pinnacle moment of
Hallelujah. But now something must come next. This stunning recounting
of Jesus and the Samaritan woman might have closed with Jesus’ evangelical witness and astounding testimony as it did with Nicodemus. What is next?
Yes, the always ubiquitous "what comes next moment"! Freeze the moment for a bit. Freeze frame it for a few moments. Take your time to consider carefully the scene as it is now! Put yourself square into the middle of this absolutely awesome Hallelujah! Walk around a little bit. Ask each person you come to "what is on your mind now?" I hope and pray you will not be afraid to approach Jesus too and ask him that question. Right now, he is probably the only one that you will get an authoritative answer from. Strangely perhaps to us right now, it likewise includes the effect of
witnessing upon Jesus. God changes us, changes all others as we bear
witness to include eying Jesus.
What is Jesus doing in the midst of his own Hallelujah moments. Let us not yet allow ourselves to get all wrapped up around the woman and the disciples. They are not in all likelihood going to give us the full and complete picture we need to see today for our own witness and testimony. They in ways that may not seem obvious,
will seem to lack the measure of authority and relevance to effect and
affect others. I mean, I ask you to consider that the disciples said
nothing, refused to say anything, knew so much better that it was safer
to say nothing than to say anything at all. They were in Samaria. The woman was about to leave but we still are not sure she will come back.
What will she tell her fellow villagers? How will she tell them? Why
should she even tell them because she is probably already outcast from
their fellowship? Will she just go home and keep it to herself?
Would anyone believe her? Why would anyone take the time to defy
conventional wisdom and not just listen but allow themselves to be effected and affected by the course and chorus of Hallelujah moments? Even then, if they bothered to listen to her, was it to be polite? Was it to become scornful for one more reason? What if the woman thought about all this mess before she
picked up her feet, convinced herself that it would mean nothing to
nobody else? To me? You?
Let Us Pray: God in Christ in the
Spirit, may we your people bear witness to Your True Love for all. May
those whom we encounter in our daily lives know that we are Christians by our lived witness of Your Love for us, in us, through us.
We are all a diverse people but we have need of each other and we have
need of You. Help us to live into the gift of Your Oneness - Your family
- Your church - Your Love ... For it is ultimately true that we all
created to live; to live in You ... through You ... and by You. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Amen (National Council Of Churches {adapted})
http://www.youtube.com/
Read: John 4:27 - 30
Well, as we dig deeper into the significance of this story, the Hallelujah's just keep on coming for the Samaritan woman, Jesus and the disciples who are just arriving from buying food at the market. Jesus has declared that He is the prophesied Messiah. She is probably close to lifting herself off the ground at what she has just heard. With his Jesus’ declaration that He is the prophesied Messiah the conversation has reached its summit, its pinnacle moment of Hallelujah. But now something must come next. This stunning recounting of Jesus and the Samaritan woman might have closed with Jesus’ evangelical witness and astounding testimony as it did with Nicodemus. What is next?
Yes, the always ubiquitous "what comes next moment"! Freeze the moment for a bit. Freeze frame it for a few moments. Take your time to consider carefully the scene as it is now! Put yourself square into the middle of this absolutely awesome Hallelujah! Walk around a little bit. Ask each person you come to "what is on your mind now?" I hope and pray you will not be afraid to approach Jesus too and ask him that question. Right now, he is probably the only one that you will get an authoritative answer from. Strangely perhaps to us right now, it likewise includes the effect of witnessing upon Jesus. God changes us, changes all others as we bear witness to include eying Jesus.
What is Jesus doing in the midst of his own Hallelujah moments. Let us not yet allow ourselves to get all wrapped up around the woman and the disciples. They are not in all likelihood going to give us the full and complete picture we need to see today for our own witness and testimony. They in ways that may not seem obvious, will seem to lack the measure of authority and relevance to effect and affect others. I mean, I ask you to consider that the disciples said nothing, refused to say anything, knew so much better that it was safer to say nothing than to say anything at all. They were in Samaria. The woman was about to leave but we still are not sure she will come back.
What will she tell her fellow villagers? How will she tell them? Why should she even tell them because she is probably already outcast from their fellowship? Will she just go home and keep it to herself? Would anyone believe her? Why would anyone take the time to defy conventional wisdom and not just listen but allow themselves to be effected and affected by the course and chorus of Hallelujah moments? Even then, if they bothered to listen to her, was it to be polite? Was it to become scornful for one more reason? What if the woman thought about all this mess before she picked up her feet, convinced herself that it would mean nothing to nobody else? To me? You?
Let Us Pray: God in Christ in the Spirit, may we your people bear witness to Your True Love for all. May those whom we encounter in our daily lives know that we are Christians by our lived witness of Your Love for us, in us, through us. We are all a diverse people but we have need of each other and we have need of You. Help us to live into the gift of Your Oneness - Your family - Your church - Your Love ... For it is ultimately true that we all created to live; to live in You ... through You ... and by You. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Amen (National Council Of Churches {adapted})
http://www.youtube.com/
It Is Well With My Soul [Live]
www.youtube.com
Music
video by Bill & Gloria Gaither performing It Is Well With My Soul
(feat. Wintley Phipps) [Live]. (P) (C) 2012 Spring House Music Group.
All rights
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