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The Gospel Truth
She was a woman in a man's world. She was a Samaritan in a racially prejudiced society. She was a five-time divorcee in a culture where divorce was not as common as it is today. She lived with a man who was not her husband in a day when people didn't wink at cohabitation. This is the story of an insignificant woman who became one of the most significant characters in the gospel of John. What changed her life? She encountered God True significance in life begins and ends with God. Without him we are a speck of dust that comes and goes without any lasting value at all. With him we become a star in the heavens that will shine forever. God is real and God really makes the difference in our lives. When God comes into our lives, he always takes the initiative. Call it sovereign grace, call it divine providence, call it love. We don't seek him; he comes looking for us. He is the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus wrote a nice script for this insignificant woman. He changed his travel plans to go through Samaria. He positioned himself at high noon at a local watering hole. He engaged her in conversation so that she could make a covenant with the living God. There are really no insignificant people with the Lord. She had an interest in worship There is something about being in the presence of God that makes one want to worship. When this woman perceived that Jesus was a prophet, a divine person in whom was the knowledge and presence of God, her thoughts immediately turned to the subject of worship. She was not sarcastic. She had a sincere interest in getting worship right. Jesus gave her the correct formula: "spirit" and "truth." True worship of the true and living God is for spiritually born again people and must be based on the truth of the word of God. Location, buildings, dress codes, even certain aspects of the music are peripheral issues. What matters is a gathering of people who know God through the spirit and are getting to know him better through the word. This does not mean that people who are not born again should not come to worship. They most certainly should. The experience of watching regenerate people worship often leads to the new birth. A person cannot pursue true worship and remain truly insignificant for very long. She confessed Jesus as the messiah I think verse 25 was actually a pointed question and verse 26 was a direct answer. The ingredient necessary to become a true worshiper is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Somewhere between the well and the dialogue with Jesus and the conversations with the townspeople, this woman connected the dots. It wasn't smooth or even all that clear. Most conversions are this way. There is no cookie cutter, walk and aisle and pray a prayer, easy salvation formula in scripture. Like the wind in Nicodemus' sails in John 3, this salvation story in John 4 is mysterious, but serious. Because of the word she heard, she reflected upon her sinful life, repented and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. What is most significant about this insignificant woman is that, whatever her name was, on this day she received a new name written down in glory. She believed. Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ is by far the most significant thing any person will ever do. She engaged in evangelism One of the sure fire ways you can know a person is saved is that they want other people to be saved, too. Here again there is no set formula, no degree requirements, no exclusive club of soul-winners. You simply look someone else in the eye and say, "Come and see." Come and see a man who changed my life. Come and see a man who can change yours, too. Leading other people to faith in Jesus Christ is the most significant thing you can ever do for another person. Favors fade. Money is spent. Material things wear out. But the person who does the will of God lives forever. People will be in heaven because of this woman. Will people be in heaven because of you and me? Surely you are at least as significant in someone's life as this Samaritan woman. She found significance in life At the end of the day, this most insignificant woman found the greatest significance in life. Ironically, it was by becoming insignificant, again. Read the last verse of the story, verse 42, carefully. They didn't need her anymore. They could see and believe for themselves. Once you meet "the savior of the world," everyone and everything else is insignificant in comparison. When my significance is lost in the significance of Jesus Christ, then and only then have I led a truly significant life. When I determine not to make a name for myself, but to make God's name great in people's lives, then and only then have I led a truly significant life. When people might forget who I am or not remember my name, but they believe in the name of the only begotten son of God, then and only then have I led a truly significant life.
This woman, whatever her name, did just that with her life. She did not live the "American Dream," whatever that is. She did not even live the Samaritan dream. But with her life she made God's name great. What will you do with your life?
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