“Out of 100 men, one will read the Bible, the other 99 will read the Christian.” ― D.L. Moody
John 4:28-30 (The Message): The woman took the hint and left. In her confusion she left her water pot. Back in the village she told the people, "Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?" And they went out to see for themselves. … 39-42 - Many of the Samaritans from that village committed themselves to him because of the woman's witness: "He knew all about the things I did. He knows me inside and out!" They asked him to stay on, so Jesus stayed two days. A lot more people entrusted their lives to him when they heard what he had to say. They said to the woman, "We're no longer taking this on your say-so. We've heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. He's the Savior of the world!"
This Woman was the Wrong Kind of Person
She was a woman and a Samaritan. Yet, she did not take on the defeatist attitude that many adopt that says, "I’m a minority; nothing I do can ever be as good." She had a bad relationship track record, but she did not say, "I’m divorced (or single) how can I speak about love?" She took what she knew and she shared it with others.
This Woman had the Wrong Kind of Past
She was a sexually immoral person. Think of the kind of names would we call this woman today -- maybe not out loud--but what would people think of her? Are you too worried about people to focusing on who you were or do you want them to know who you are? My pastor always says, "Satan deals in your past, God deals in your future." and, "When Satan starts attacking your past, it’s because he’s running out of ammunition." Plus, this woman was not the first of her kind. God used others just like her. Remember, Rahab the prostitute, she saved her whole family by helping the Israelite spies in Jericho. (Joshua 2) and she became part of the lineage of Jesus. This doesn’t mean that you should not value your body as a gift, and save yourself for marriage, but it does mean that, even if you have made mistakes, all it takes is one decision to change your life and grow in God, and He can use you for amazing miracles.
This Woman had the Right Kind of Persuasion - Know your value.
You don’t have to hide your life to give a testimony - It’s not about how many Scriptures you know; it’s about how much of the goodness of God you know. God can use anybody. He used Pharaoh to get Israel out of Egypt; He used Saul to help David to the throne; He used Satan himself to get Job to a higher place of praise, and no matter what you have done, you have got nothing on Satan, so let God use you. Your testimony can simply be, "Come see a man who knows everything about me, and He loves me, He saved me, and He keeps me from falling.
I have done a lot that I’m not proud of, but when I think of all the things I didn’t do, places I didn’t go, and people I didn’t encounter because of God’s grace, all I can say is:
Amazing Grace shall always be my song of praise
For it was grace that bought my liberty
I do not know just how He came to love me so
He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs
I shall forever life mine eyes to Calvary
To view the cross where Jesus died for me
How marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul
He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs.
If this Samaritan woman can lead others to Christ, why should be so ashamed of ourselves that we cannot share our faith with others? Or is it that we are not ashamed of ourselves, but ashamed of the Gospel? Ms. EV