On Schedule
"And he must needs go through Samaria." - John 4:4
The English Standard Version says that Jesus "had to pass through" Samaria. Simplistic reasoning could say that the need to pass through was because it was en route to where His next stop would occur. However, there are obvious implications it was a scheduled stop on a Divine Itinerary.
He sat on the well waiting for her to arrive and she did. Initiating conversation with her, the discussion went without delay to spiritual things, her sin as well as doctrinal salvation. Her conviction and faith was confirmed by the Truth and this caused a chain reaction:
"The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him." - John 4:28-30
Two days of ministry and many new believers later, Jesus had proven the effectiveness of one-to-one evangelism. We must not neglect an opportunity to witness to any, even just one soul. You never know what one word of encouragement, a spoken Scripture, or Bible principled advice can do to someone's spirit. It was on the Divine schedule for Jesus to pass through Samaria because a revival was waiting to break out.
"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" - 1 Corinthians 9:16
Paul was well aware of his responsibility to the Commission. He wanted to transmit that same conviction to the Corinthian church; in 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 he said: "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."
''Committed'' in verse 19 could be defined as being put in place, in an unchanging sense. We cannot abandon this call to reconcile a world the Creator it’s become separated from. It's not just the preacher's responsibility to witness to a single soul; it is every Christian's. It's also not just the preacher's job to occupy a place behind a pulpit. If a preacher can only deliver the gospel to an assembled group but can't find words to speak to an individual, their ministry does not reflect Christ's.
He reached for her and the results were worth the effort. Soon His disciples would hear:
"Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." - John 4:35
You and I are also on a schedule, potentially one Divinely inspired. So where is it that we ...must needs go through…?
The English Standard Version says that Jesus "had to pass through" Samaria. Simplistic reasoning could say that the need to pass through was because it was en route to where His next stop would occur. However, there are obvious implications it was a scheduled stop on a Divine Itinerary.
He sat on the well waiting for her to arrive and she did. Initiating conversation with her, the discussion went without delay to spiritual things, her sin as well as doctrinal salvation. Her conviction and faith was confirmed by the Truth and this caused a chain reaction:
"The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him." - John 4:28-30
Two days of ministry and many new believers later, Jesus had proven the effectiveness of one-to-one evangelism. We must not neglect an opportunity to witness to any, even just one soul. You never know what one word of encouragement, a spoken Scripture, or Bible principled advice can do to someone's spirit. It was on the Divine schedule for Jesus to pass through Samaria because a revival was waiting to break out.
"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" - 1 Corinthians 9:16
Paul was well aware of his responsibility to the Commission. He wanted to transmit that same conviction to the Corinthian church; in 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 he said: "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."
''Committed'' in verse 19 could be defined as being put in place, in an unchanging sense. We cannot abandon this call to reconcile a world the Creator it’s become separated from. It's not just the preacher's responsibility to witness to a single soul; it is every Christian's. It's also not just the preacher's job to occupy a place behind a pulpit. If a preacher can only deliver the gospel to an assembled group but can't find words to speak to an individual, their ministry does not reflect Christ's.
He reached for her and the results were worth the effort. Soon His disciples would hear:
"Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." - John 4:35
You and I are also on a schedule, potentially one Divinely inspired. So where is it that we ...must needs go through…?
posted by Pastor Cortes at 11:50 AM
1 Comments:
Great Post! Keep up the good work in Kennedale. God Bless....
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