The Simple Life

After the two days, he departed for Galilee. (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) John 4:43-44 (ESV)   Often those we are closest to are the most difficult, or even impossible, to minister to. We cannot believe that God would use people differently, and since we have so many commonalities, we don't understand how they are different from ourselves. Those from the outside see and respond well to the giftedness, and often find them refreshing. It can be frustrating to help those you do not know more than those you live with; however, it is a reality with which we all live.   I need to pay attention to those around me and not just the distant scholar. I just may be surprised by what I see and learn.  https://www.podbean.com/relate365

Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world." John 4:39-42 (ESV)   This woman of ill repute brought many to Christ even though she knew little of who Jesus was or what He was about. This woman was being used of God because of her excitement as to who Jesus was, what He said and did. She was not being used because she was a "qualified" religious leader.   Anybody can point to Christ, and those who genuinely encounter Him do just that. Those who have been forgiven much often share God's amazing grace with whoever would listen to them. Nobody is qualified to represent God

“Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." John 4:36-38 (ESV)   Farmers perform tasks at appropriate times and then wait on factors that are not in their control. Their diligence does not control the weather, send or prevent rain, or set the temperatures. Instead, the farmer works diligently and hopes.   Likewise, we work diligently and hope. Many factors go into the harvest about which we have little to nothing to do. The predictions of what weather is to come cannot affect or preparation for the ideal . Over time, those who remain diligent will see abundant harvests and have enough to carry them through the lean years. Our job is to remain diligent in preparing for the time when the right conditions will produce

The word of Christ, let it be continually at home in you in abundance; with every wisdom teaching and admonishing each other by means of psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, with the grace singing in your hearts to God. And all, whatever you do in the sphere of word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, constantly giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians  3:16-17  (Wuest)   Today, we pause and say thanks to God for His mercy and provision for us as a nation. We can focus on things that bother us, on things we do not have or may not be able to do, or we can focus on God's hand of provision. Those who focus on God and His mercy, grace, and provision are a joy to be around.   Let this day be one of rejoicing as we publicly enjoy God and our family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

As for you, are you not saying, There are yet four months, and the harvest comes? Behold, I say to you, Lift up your eyes at once, and view attentively the fields, that they are white for harvest. Already the one who is reaping is receiving pay and is gathering together fruit for life eternal, in order that he who is sowing and he who is reaping may be rejoicing together. John 4:35-36 (Wuest)   Jesus always sees things the way they are. We see things from our perspective. Jesus sees a world ripe for the harvest and many who would possibly rejoice in the harvest but few to work the harvest.   We often make excuses for not involving ourselves. We talk of this not being the right time, or that harvesting is not our "thing." Perhaps we are unaware that the best time for harvesting is now, and if we wait too much longer, we will lose the harvest to predators, weather, and decay. If I live each day looking for God to use me in the harvest, I will be part of the harvest. Every year

Jesus says to them, My food is to be doing the will of Him who sent me and to carry His work to completion. John 4:34 (Wuest )   Jesus tried to tell them again that the most excellent satisfaction in life comes to those privileged to be used by God to accomplish His purposes. Therefore, it is not an indictment against food. Jesus is stating aloud what is evident to Himself.   The longer I live, the more I understand what Jesus is saying and know that those who spend their lives trying to be satisfied with more in this life will, in the end, be the most remarkable testimony to the futileness of life apart from God.   Jesus was involved in something more important than food or sleep, and He knew that God could supply the energy He needed to sustain and excel in this life. He was not aware of His physical need; He just had His priorities where they belonged.   I pray that I, too, will see what is most important in life and live in its context. But, for now, the choice is mine. https://www

But He said to them, As for myself, I have food to eat concerning which you have no knowledge. Then the disciples kept on saying to one another, No one brought Him anything to eat, did he? John 4:32-33 (Wuest)   We all seek to be satisfied in life, and we often focus on what we do not have rather than what we do have. We think another acquisition, more financial resources, power, or heaps of recognition will finally satisfy our weary souls.   Yet, soon we realize that contentment is one of the most valuable tools to defend ourselves against the devil's schemes. Those most satisfied in life also realize that temporal things cannot give lasting satisfaction. Food, money, and clothing are nice, yet they all wear out and leave us wanting, even yearning, for more.   Jesus spoke of being satisfied in life, and the disciples missed the point of His message. Contentment comes from knowing God and being a part of what He is doing on earth. Those trying to find it elsewhere will see their jo

Thereupon, the woman abruptly discarded her water jar and went off into the city, and says to the men, Come here. See a man who told me all the things I did. Can this be the Christ? They went out of the city and proceeded in a steady stream toward Him. John 4:28-30 (Wuest)   Those who find Christ, share Christ, even though they may not know doctrine, and might continue to struggle with their sinful lifestyle. Genuine belief always results in real concern for others.   Nobody needs to train a Green Bay Packers’ football fan how to be enthusiastic about football. But, unfortunately, there are no classes to teach football fans to share their excitement for the sport and their particular team.   Often, evangelicals desire or require classes to share the good news with others, when sharing good information should never require a strategy. If one is not excited about what God has done and is doing, all the classes in the world are not helpful.   The best evangelistic tool is a genuine excite

The woman says to Him, I know positively that Messiah comes, the One who is commonly called Christ. Whenever that One comes, He will make known to us all things. Jesus says to her, I am He, the one speaking to you. And at this juncture His disciples came and kept on wondering because with a woman He was speaking. However, no one said, What are you seeking? or, Why are you talking with her? John 4:25-27 (Wuest)   All people were equally important to Jesus. All were sinners, and all needed as Savior. Humanity often places barriers between people for various reasons, yet Jesus often dismantled those barriers. One of our problems is that we struggle with the idea that different is to be celebrated, not compared. For some reason, we think those who are different from us must be inferior to us when they are just different. So, we like to make ourselves better, more critical than others. When we live like that, we demean others and maximize ourselves.   God compares healthy believers to parts

The woman says to Him, Sir, as I am carefully observing you, I am coming to the place where I see that you are a prophet. John 4:19 (Wuest)   This woman did not have a good reputation, yet she did something we should all do. She carefully observed Jesus. Those who carefully observe Jesus and honestly evaluate is life, death, and resurrection will be changed forever.   The most crucial observation in life is our observation of Jesus, and those who have not looked at and evaluated Him can never truly live and enjoy life. Jesus is the focal point of all life, and without Him, there is nothing that makes sense. He, alone, is the creator and sustainer of life, the Son of God, the propitiation for sin. He alone is our advocate, and our trust in Him will never return void.   This woman struggled with life, but she took a proper first step towards living the life she was meant to live. Today, those who take time to observe Jesus will find the most crucial answer to the most important question

Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true." John  4:16-18  (ESV)   We often limit our contact with those who live shameful lives. Jesus talked matter of factly to this woman. He did not hide the fact that she was a sinner. He did not soften her sin and her need. Instead, he spoke honestly to her, and invited her to examine a new way of thinking. Jesus was breaking all the religious rules by talking to a Samaritan woman who was involved in many unhealthy relationships. Jesus saw the problem this woman was facing and proposed a solution.   It is essential that we, too, see the problem, admit it, and offer a solution. But, unfortunately, we often expose the problem, express our disgust, and refuse to provide genuine help.

The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father, Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock." Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John  4:11-14  (ESV)   Jesus is the perfect example of a teaching mindset. This woman is involved in an everyday task, and God uses the job to ask a provoking question.   Good educators provoke thoughtful questions first, and then provide answers that help resolve the wrestling match that is taking place in the mind. Those who strictly lecture often answer questions people are not asking, making the educational experience ineffective at best. The battle for the human soul

Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." John 4:10 (ESV)   Those who know God talk to Him differently than those who do not. Those who know God trust God. Those who know God are not angry with Him, disenchanted with life, or anxious. The most severe problems in life are solved by knowing God.   Every human is capable of knowing God. Those who do not know Him have not sought Him. Humans like to take credit for the great things that happen and blame others for mishaps, mistakes, and disasters. Responsible people, who know God, give God praise for all good things and take responsibility for struggles.   It's strange to see how prominent our backward thinking has become.

A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) John 4:7-9 (ESV)   I guess Jesus was supposed to have all sorts of reasons to avoid this woman. Yet, He talked to her as He would have talked to anyone. Ethnicity was unimportant. Gender was unimportant. This woman was a person who was hurting and needed to straighten out her relationship with God and several other people.   Jesus saw the person, the person He created and loved. He, of all people, knew her well, yet nothing about her life changed the message that God loved Her and had a plan for her life.   Today we seem confused and classify people by color, gender, ethnicity, athleticism, and more. We tend to look at what they are, whereas God looks at who they are. What we are

Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. John 4:1-6 (ESV)   Jesus was tired. He found a place to rest. When I am tired, I, too, look for a place to rest. However, when I am tired, I am not looking for more ministry opportunities. I am looking for rest.   Since Jesus always saw things clearly, He knew the game the Pharisees were playing, and He knew he was now at a place in Samaria among people generally hated by the Jews. Being tired did not stop Him from looking for and positioning Himself for more ministry opportunities. Jesus gave us an

The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. John 3:35-36 (ESV)   God's message is simple and to the point. God loves, and to those He loves, He gives. He does not give in a way that destroys, as is the practice of many people. Instead, he provides to give life, and life more abundantly. Jesus is God, the Son in the Trinity, and therefore He, too, loves. Jesus demonstrated love to us by giving. He demonstrated His love for God through obedience.   That is what loving God and loving people look like.

He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. John 3:31-33 (ESV)   We can think about ourselves, now, in this moment, and what is happening around us that we see, hear, and feel. We can be captivated, motivated, and inspired by things of this world. Or, we could have our thoughts or treasures involved in what is and what will happen throughout eternity.   We can listen to those who know what they are talking about, or we can be "swayed" by those who know how to talk about something they do not know. We can search for truth and allow it to guide us, or we can accept propaganda as "truth" and be tossed, like the waves of the sea.   The Bible distinctly refers to two types of people, the lost and the saved. In whi

He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30 (ESV)   What would life look like if this were my mantra? What if I arose every day and dedicated my time to making God more visible and me less visible? Our culture and churches seem focused on making sure everybody feels valued and vital, and keeps looking for ways to affirm everyone. Perhaps this focus on self-importance is stealing the joy that comes from focusing on God's importance.   Elijah prayed that the prophets of Baal would know that God was God, and, if they thought of him, they would see he was a servant. The apostles counted it a privilege to be considered slaves, and John the Baptist summarized that God increasing and himself disappearing was the remaining goal in life.   Jesus considered John the Baptist as a great person. Matthew 11:11 states, "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater

John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.” John 3:27 (ESV)   If we are successful in evangelism, it is because of God. If we are successful in life, it is because of God. If we are healthy, it is because of God. If we are sick, it is because of God. We were all born into a time, place, and family. We all have different opportunities, trials, fears, joys, and pain. We all have perspectives, opinions, and understandings that differ about many topics.   Yet, there is one God, one truth, one way to God.   If we are successful at anything, in the end, it will be declared so by God, and no matter where we came from or what our current situations are, our success comes from obeying Him. God is the constant in the universe, the same in all cases for all people in all time.

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison). John 3:22-24 (ESV)   John the Baptist did everything he was supposed to do, yet the world rejected him. We do what we are supposed to do, and we want to be rewarded. I am sure that John did not want to be persecuted or end up in jail, yet if that is what happened because he was faithful, so be it. Criticism, anger, hatred, and even jail time did not stop John from answering God's call. His faithfulness was not dependent upon the circumstances of life; it was dependent on knowing God and His faithfulness.   Jesus considered John one of the great ones. But, unfortunately, the world believed John to be a nutcase.   What God thinks will always trump what the world thinks, and the wise focus on His Word and

“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." John  3:19-21  (ESV)   "These words may have taken their form from the fact that Nicodemus came by night and may have been a gentle rebuke and a test for self-examination. One of the saddest things in a spiritual sense is that man shrinks from the light. With a nature and position before God such as his, this ought not to be. One of the most blessed things is when men welcome the light and have nothing about them that they wish to hide." (G. McMichael)   Psalms 139:23-24 says this: "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way

“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." John  3:19-21  (ESV)   Motivation is often hard to evaluate. We are excellent at justifying, rationalizing, and harmonizing our actions with noble causes. We do not intentionally do wrong things and have no tolerance for what we would consider deviant behavior.   There is not a person or society that will accept deviant behavior. Therefore, for any action to be acceptable, we must first make it "acceptable." After the once deemed abnormal behavior is now acceptable, we make those who challenge our new normal the new deviants.   Our rigorous campaign against those who challenge us is more