(Thank you for the inspiration Mr. Derreck Kayongo)
Monday’s bible study was Daniel, Jeanne, Janet, and I. Daniel and I were busy interpreting the symbolism
of this Sunday’s readings. We dove into the meaning of living water. We carried
a conversation about the woman's bucket. Yes, we were deep in the word.
Then, I looked over at
Jeanne. She had that look on her face, lips pursed and forehead wrinkled;
wringing her hands as she looked at the Gospel. Then she says "I just don't see it. It's a story
about a woman who meets Jesus. He tells her sins and she believes. It’s simple;
that's what I see."
She was right. It was simple.
Jesus met and spoke to the Samaritan woman. She looked at herself, her life,
and she believed in Jesus. All we can do is give to the LORD our entire self.
That's a great message for
Lent. Look at self. The woman did. Look at our life in reference to self, S-E-L-F
(Serve, Educate, Lead, Faith)
First, S is for serve. Jesus
called the woman to serve. Give me a drink of water.
Jesus calls each of us to
serve; feed the hungry, visit the sick and imprisoned, and clothe the naked.
What you did for the least, you did for me. Every day in the voices of the poor
Jesus calls, “Give me a drink of water.”
The E is educate. Jesus
educated the woman. He told who she was and told her sins. Jesus told her of
the living water that He would give. Then,
He told her more.
For many sin is the “yuck"
factor. It what makes following Jesus so
hard: realizing sins, trials, and low points in our lives. We don't want to
face our shortcomings. Yet, facing that part of our lives educates us. It
teaches us that we need to turn to Jesus, listen to his gospel and learn the truths
of our faith. Educating others in Christ is ministry and mission.
What about the L? The L is
for lead. After answering the call to serve and learning the truth about Jesus,
the Samaritan woman left her bucket at the well and went to lead others to Jesus, the savior of the world.
That is how Christians are
called to lead. Lead others to Christ. Every good leader knows others find
Christ by service, mission, and ministry.
It’s the "yuck"
factor that makes us leaders. Leading others through the sin, trials, and low
points where we've already been. We lead people to Christ through our experiences,
knowing Jesus, and sharing the gospel, the good news of Christ.
Not least is F for faith. The Samaritan woman
believed in Jesus. She would lead others to Jesus by faith.
Everyone needs faith. Faith
is what makes us whole. Faith brings us to the living water that Jesus
promised. We believe in faith that Jesus is
Savior of the World. "It is by faith we are justified."
I don’t
want anyone scratching their heads about the living water and the bucket. The
bucket represents the empty lives we bring to Jesus. Jesus speaks to us and
fills us with the Living Water (the Holy Spirit); the gift He promises. As the
spirit fills us, we want to be something more in our SELF.
God knows
us and wants us. The Holy Spirit fills us. We leave behind the old empty bucket
that we once were to tell others about Jesus. The bucket and living water,
Jesus puts it all in motion, when we hear is voice.
Because, God loved us so much that while we were still sinners, Christ
died for us. On this third Sunday of Lent, a season to look at
self, Love enough to give your entire self to God.
Jesus spoke. The woman looked
at her SELF. She believed. It's a simple message.
Y'all be good, y'all be
holy; preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.
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