Day 8 – Made to Worship

Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”They came out of the town and made their way toward him…

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers.

They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” John 4:28-30, 39-42

All her life Sam had been waiting, hoping and longing for Messiah to come. He’d explain everything to her. Here in this moment He had. It all made sense now. For the first time, Sam understood the thirst of her heart; her longing to be known and understood; the void in her heart that could only be filled by knowing Jesus and being known by Him.

The gift Jesus offered was a relationship. He said that if she drank Living Water it would become a spring within her welling up to eternal life. Jesus describes the relationship of Living Water and eternal life in John 17:3, when He was talking to His father and said: “This is eternal life: that they may know You, the One true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

This is eternal life – that we can know Him! Not just know about Him but really KNOW Him! And in knowing Him our thirst for relationship can be quenched – our souls can be filled – our desires fulfilled. Eventually the relationship we have with Him will become a spring of Living Water – spilling out on those around us – leading them to know Him, too.

Sam drank deeply of the love Jesus offered. Sam surrendered all that she was and all that she had believed. Leaving her water jar behind, Sam left the well and everything that represented who she was when she got there that day at noon. She left behind the jar she carried, the shame she wore, and with it all of the rejection and regrets that were tied to her past. Sam responded in worship – in Spirit and in Truth. She surrendered her need for the approval and acceptance of others and received the authentic and unconditional acceptance of Her Messiah and Lord.

She’d been loved – so she could love.
She’d been forgiven – so she could forgive.
She’d been set free – so she could lead other captives to freedom.
She’d knew she belonged to Him – so she could invite others into the Father’s love.

Instead of running away – Sam ran back to the people she’d be running from. In her first act of true worship, Sam invited them to come and meet the man who told her everything she ever did and loved her deeper still. Her life was a wellspring she couldn’t keep to herself – just as Jesus had promise. In Spirit and in truth Sam’s worship that day led others to the One True God and Jesus Christ whom He had sent. Sam believed. Sam received.

Just like Sam….

You and I were made to worship.
You and I are called to love;
You and I are forgiven and free.
When you and I embrace surrender
When you and I choose to believe,
Then You and I will see
who we were meant to be

Click the arrow to hear the rest and worship Him in the power of His promise.

 

© 2008, Renee Swope. All rights reserved.