June 2002
"Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband and come
here." The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus
said to her, "You have well said, I have no husband. For you have had five
husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband: in that you spoke
truly." The woman said to Him, "Sir I perceive that You are a
prophet.".....
The woman said to Him, "I know the Messiah is coming" (who is called
the Christ)." When He comes, He will tell us all things. Jesus said to her,
"I who speak to you am He." And at this point His disciples came and
they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, "What do You
seek" or "Why are You talking with her?" The woman then left her
waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men. "Come see a Man
who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" Then
they went out of the city and came
to Him."
Don't Leave Home Without It!
These are the words of a slogan by a prominent credit card company. The
advertisement suggests that when you leave home, this credit should not be left
behind.
When you need something while on your journey, whether it be lodging, food,
clothes, gas or other items, their card is all you require. They want to
convince you that their card is essential, so, don't leave home without it.
June is one of the vacation months. Many of us will be traveling to see
relatives, friends and to distant places for rest, recuperation and relaxation.
As we prepare to leave, we will make sure we stop the newspaper delivery, get
someone to handle our mail, secure a keeper for the dog, notify our neighbor to
water our flowers and leave an emergency number with someone, just in case you
are needed. As you pack for your trip, much care will be given to ensure that
you have all the things needed for the trip.
(I usually forget my toothbrush.) I want to suggest there is one thing you don't
want to leave home without, your testimony.
The text above, is part a longer section (4:1-43), of Christ's ministry to a
Samaritan woman. Christ met the woman at a well in Sychar. Samaritans were
"half-breeds," part Jew and part Gentile. As such, they were
considered outcasts and were not allowed to be part of the Jewish society. It
was against all the Jewish customs and laws for Jesus to be speaking to a woman
in public and a Samaritan woman. Jesus "needed to go through Samaria"
(v4) because God had planned a divine appointment―for this sinful woman to
meet Him and find in Him living water. In the interview recorded, we can see the
growth of the woman's faith in Jesus as the Christ. In verses 1-9, He is a Jew
(9). In verses 10-15, He is greater than Jacob (v12). Jesus wanted to give
living water. How typical it is for a sinner to confuse the spiritual with the
physical. In verses 16-24, He is a prophet (v19). Finally, in verses 25-42, she
declares, "This is indeed the Christ."
Then, the woman ran to the city, leaving her waterpot, but taking with her a
testimony. After meeting Christ, the waterpot had lost its importance to the
woman. Her testimony of the blessing that she had received from the encounter
with Jesus Christ was more important now. She cried out to the men of the city,
"Come see a man." She gave her testimony. The scripture says,
"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand
of the enemy." (Ps. 107:2) Then, the text records, "And many of the
Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who
testified, "He told me all that I ever did." (v39, NKJV)
Christians, wherever they go, should witness about Him. In the hotels, on the
beach, in the shopping malls, on the airplane, on the bus, in the restaurants,
to our family and friends we should give out testimony. A testimony should be
simple, factual report of what God has done for you. Our testimony should
be about Him, not about us. He said, "And, I, if I be lifted up from the
earth, will draw all men unto me." (John 12:32)
Our testimony should have three parts. First, it should include where you were
before Christ. "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of
this world, according to the prince of the power of the air......" (Eph.
2:1-3). Second, you should tell what happened. "But God, who is rich in
mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us. Even when we were dead in sins,
hath quickened us together with Christ....." (Eph. 2: 4-7). Finally, we
should praise God for our new position in him. "For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God....." (Eph.
2:8-10) Maybe, just maybe, while you are on vacation this year, someone might
come to know Christ as their personal Saviour!
As you prepare to leave on your vacation, don't forget the mail, flowers,
newspaper, and toothbrush. But, there is one thing that I pray that you don't
leave home without ― your testimony! Have a great and restful summer.
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FBC Online