Father, may my hope in You bring life to others.
May my words point people to You,
igniting faith in them to seek You.
Focus of the Month: Ordinary Women with Extraordinary Hope
Have you ever experienced exciting change, life-giving revelation, or sudden breakthrough? Have you witnessed someone spark hope, passion and focus in a group of people? Maybe it’s you who has instigated some revolution!
It’s amazing how just one person can make such a difference – a tremendous life-change – not just for herself, but for all who watch and witness her life, her choices, her passion, her commitment, her vision, her expectation, her faith, her words. We meet such a woman in the Gospel of John.
John 4 tells the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. You may be familiar with this story. Jesus and the disciples traveled through Samaria and stopped at the well for refreshment. The woman had come to draw water in the sixth hour, and she and Jesus had a conversation. Jesus spoke to the woman about living water, details of her personal life, and true worship. Let’s pick up there, at John 4:25-30:
The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” At this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why do You speak with her?” So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men, “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?” They went out of the city, and were coming to Him.
The woman believed the scriptures and knew the Messiah was coming. She believed the words of the Prophets; she hoped in the promises of God; and she trusted it would happen exactly as God said. When the disciples interrupted the conversation between Jesus and the woman, instead of being deterred from the revelation that Jesus is the Messiah, we see the focus of the woman. She was so excited to share with others the revelation of the Christ that she walked away from her waterpot, dismissed herself from the conversation, and ran back to her city to tell everyone – anyone – about Jesus!
From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I havedone.” So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of His word. (John 4:39-41)
The Samaritan woman at the well was a momentum changer – not just in her own life, but in the lives of all those with whom she shared the revelation of Jesus, the Messiah.
Each of us can be a momentum changer. Is our hope life-giving? Is our faith contagious? Is our trust in Him so evident that it causes others to believe? Are our words encouraging others in His wisdom, His power, His truth? Is our passion for Him stirring the faith in others? Do our lives point others to the Christ?
Lord, be glorified in my words, in my passion, in my hope placed in You. Let others see You because of my faith in You. Let my life be the momentum someone else needs to see You – to believe in You – to follow You.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scripture Reference: John 4:25-41; Matthew 5:16; Titus 2:7