Testimony

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”                                                  John 4.39

An unnamed, wayward Samaritan woman quite possibly became the first missionary of the New Testament. She was effective through the simple act of relating what Jesus had done for her. How easy is that? Through this unlikely source, many around her came to believe.

As mature as I would like to see myself as a Christian, I still think of myself as an unlikely source for evangelism. I can take a clear lesson from this unknown lady of so long ago. Her strength was her reality. Jesus had opened her eyes with His truth. Despite the subject matter showing her up unfavourably, she freely told those around her of the amazing things that Jesus had said.

She tells me that I am not to be ashamed of anything that Jesus might reveal about me, whether known by me or not. All truth can be used by Him for His praise and glory.

Oh, that I might follow the Samaritan woman and spread the good news by the word of my testimony.

Lord Jesus,

I feel slightly ashamed that a person such as the Samaritan woman can be such an advocate for You. I am no better than she, yet that she seems to have spoken more freely about You than I do.

I want to be a freer, better, more open witness for You. Help me please. Let the words come out of my mouth in the right way at the right time. May Your Holy Spirit alert me to situations wherein I can be Your ambassador. You are so very real to me. Enable me, please, to share that reality more and more as I journey through this life. Help me in this, in Your precious name I ask.                    Amen.

An Alternative

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”                                                                                                   Matt. 5.38,39

The directive of Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth is stated three times in the Old Testament. The first, in Exodus 21.24 considers a pregnant woman who may be hit and injured by fighting men. In the case of serious injury to the woman, the penalty was to apply. In Leviticus 24.20 the situation is of fighting between neighbours, while Deuteronomy 19.21 concerns false witness being given in court. It appears that each case illustrates the so-called law of retaliation, and the references are meant to show that the punishment is to fit the crime but not to be excessive of it.

However, in Matthew’s narrative Jesus would appear to be invoking the “law of love”. As I ponder on this, I see that Jesus is offering me an alternative. It’s as if He’s saying, “You have a choice. You may go with the law of retaliation and exact a punishment. But, be warned, the punishment is not to exceed the crime. Yet, if you say you are a Christian, I ask you to follow the law of love. If your aim is simply to seek vengeance, then the law of retaliation is the way for you. But if you are more concerned with the health and wellbeing – of everyone – then you need to follow the law of love. It is the law of love rather than the law of retaliation that holds in the kingdom of God.”

It may often be far more difficult to follow the law of love rather than the law of retaliation, but I know the way I’d like to go.

Lord Jesus,

I choose the law of love. I ask You to help me to follow this choice. Give me wisdom and insight to see the right way to go. Strengthen me to go that way. Lead me and walk with me, in the fullness of love.              Amen.

My book “God Talk” is available through major Internet booksellers.

A taste of the book's content can be seen in the You Tube clip (Search: Peter Francis - "God Talk").

Work

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”            

                                                                                                                        John 4.34

Jesus lived only to do the Father’s will. He “fed” on the Father’s will. What a beautiful picture this conjures up.

His mission was to finish the Father’s work. During His life on earth Jesus fulfilled what was required of Him. Even so, the work is incomplete. But the good news is that Jesus, the Christ, will return, and He will bring the Father’s work to perfect completion. Hallelujah! Praise our great God!

Meanwhile, I am here! And I believe I have work to do – the Father’s work. Jesus said, “Follow me!” I take this seriously. I want to be as much like Jesus, to truly follow Him, as much as I am able to. He lived to do the Father’s will. I seek to do likewise. When He left this earth, his work for that time was complete. I seek to fulfill all that the Father would have of me in my time here.

Holy Lord,

I thank You, not only for the salvation I have received through Jesus, but also for His wonderful example to me of obedience to Your will.

My earnest desire is to live in the fullness of Your will and to be and to do all that You would have of me.

To this end, I live in constant surrender to You. It’s not what I want but what You want. I look for Your way in all things.

I believe that You show me. You have promised to open doors for me and You have undertaken to close doors. When an opportunity presents itself I look to this as a door that You are opening. I ask You, therefore, to close any opening that might not be Your way for me. If it is not in Your will for me, I ask You to deny it happening.

Lead me on, Lord. I only want to go Your way. I thank You, in Jesus’ name.            Amen.

Water of Life

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”                                      John 4.13, 14

I want the water that Jesus gives. I believe I have tasted of this water, but I want more. This is the water of eternal life, but it can be at work in me – washing, refreshing, equipping and working – in the here and now.

This “water” wells up within me. The Greek verb used here denotes vigorous action. The water leaps up or jumps up within me. It springs up and bubbles up like the fresh invigorating water of a mountain stream. This action is for now in me. As I receive the living water of Jesus, I become totally alive in Him. He bubbles up within me, and I leap and jump about in Him.

I can’t get enough of this living water. I want more. And, indeed, when I have more, I shall ask for more again. I shall not be ashamed to do this, for I will willingly give away what God wants me to share and impart.

I feel that I truly come alive when I minister for Him. I want all I can get in order that I might serve Him to the fullest. He tells me to ask, and I will receive. Therefore, I ask!

Holy Lord,

Your invitation is to everyone to drink of Your water. I drink it, Lord, but I ask for more. My fervent desire is to love You with all of my being, and to share that love freely and widely with those I know and meet.

Your water enables me. Your water strengthens and releases me. It springs and bubbles up within me. I leap and jump about and rejoice in You as this living water flows freely into me, out from me, and all around me.

Lord, I ask for more water, indeed, an endless supply. But what I’m really asking for is more of You, endlessly You. Hear my prayer and answer it, in Your precious name I ask.

                                                                                                                                    Amen.

My book “God Talk” is available through major Internet booksellers.

A taste of the book's content can be seen in the You Tube clip (Search: Peter Francis - "God Talk").