We're walking down our lonely roads to Samaria.
And we meet a Man that changes our life forever.
A woman at a well. Jesus requests that she go and call her husband to come see this living water. She denies having a husband. You know the story... He says she has had five husbands, but no current one. John 4:18. How did He know? The meek Samaritan's response is startling. It's how we all live at times. 1,000 feet up in the air---that's what a friend of mine calls it. Not down to earth. Unaware of the things going on in your heart. Her reply to his accusation of her having had 5 husbands is classic: "Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." John 4:20. The Captain of her Soul delves into her personal life about all her husbands and she wants to know where the correct place is to worship. She was not willing to deal with what was going on inside of her heart. Until. Until, He says: "I Who speak to you am He." Her eyes are opened. What a thread throughout this Gospel of God opening eyes.He must increase,
but . . .
It's the whole issue.
Five husbands.
Trails of tears.
Blocked goals.
Loss in this life.
Painkillers.
Arrogant moves.
One-upmanship.
Hearts curved in.
but, I must decrease.
John 3:30.
PRAYER FROM PSALMS
Psalm 10:3
"He boasts about the cravings of his heart." O God, make us a people who deal with the cravings of our hearts. Where we long for anything more than You, open our eyes to see our sinful hearts. We must decrease.
I love how your friend put it; "living 1,000 feet in the air". I have been guilty of that, myself. I've been looking for change, while I haven't accepted the fact change comes from within. During communion on Sunday I realized I am finally at peace. I am ready to be wherever He wants. I am ready to live as a servant. Starting a new life, letting go of all the things I hold so tightly.
ReplyDeleteLetting go is such a process, Janet. That sweet peace comes when we let go, thinking we are going to free fall and we find ourselves totally enfolded in His Arms. Grateful for your transparency here on Pearls and for your place of refuge in HIm.
DeleteHow this spoke to my heart today. He is speaking softly.....you must decrease, Mary Lou and allow me to increase. This is your field I have put you in, accept it and go forward, I am with you and have gone before you.How like the woman at the well we all are. Someone asks us how we are or asks a question that gets to the heart of the problem we are facing and we come up with a "deep" theological question and want to talk about anything but what is really bothering us .
ReplyDeleteI so agree, Mary Lou. We don't want to talk about those things that bother us, but in His Presence, we must deal with it. In love and acceptance, He shows us where we are too much and He must increase. Love your heart so.
DeleteYou all share such sweet intimate places of your heart. This kind of vulnerability only comes from a place of trust you each have for your Savior.
ReplyDeleteI am moved to tears realizing I am that woman who comes to the well late in the day to avoid the crowds and avoid the reality of my soul condition. "Fine. How are you?" we answer the question with a flip dismissal. But Jesus notes, "I asked you for a drink, but you need the Living Water that I can give you." Uh oh. The Stranger reached in and read her heart. The woman started her usual "fine, thank you." You, Stranger, couldn't possibly know so I'll turn it a bit. "Nope. No husband. No ties.I know there's Someone coming, but..." Then, it comes like an arrow straight to the heart: "I who speak to you am He."
Heart issues. That's what Jesus is interested in. He gets to us. And He grows us.
I love that He forces us to face ourselves and deal with things. Some say Christianity is an escape. But it is a head-on collision with Reality and Truth.
So much in today;s reading that is a part of every believer's daily walk. We've all been the woman at the well in a spiritual sense. We've all longed for signs, we've all believed without seeings signs because we knew deep inside prayers had been answered before we finished praying.
ReplyDeleteI pray I continue to decrease so the Holy Spirit in me can increase.