"Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”…Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”…“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.”"
John 4: 28-34 NIV
Three Things We Can Learn from Jesus
- Jesus’ Food was His Love of People
In this story Jesus was tired, thirsty and hungry from his journey, and sat to rest at a well in Samaria. While Jesus’ disciples went into town to buy food, Jesus initiated a conversation with a woman who was drawing water from the well. When the disciples returned with food, Jesus took the opportunity to teach them about true spiritual hunger, which is to do the will of God. In life we can sometimes be too busy, distracted or complacent to live out our God-given mission of outreach. We have the privilege and joy of sowing God’s love into a person’s life. How beautiful it is when our hearts reflect God’s heart for people, and we sow positive experiences into peoples’ lives which help them on their journey to meet Jesus and be born again.
John 4:35-38 (NLT)
- Jesus Intentionally Reached Out
Jesus defied social norms by talking to a Samaritan (a people despised by the Jews). By simply reaching out to her, Jesus made a huge impact on the woman’s life. Matthew 5:16 (NLT) says let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. The Bible says Jesus is the Light of the World … and so too are believers when we reflect Christ’s love by being kind and doing good deeds, such as praying for others, showing interest in other peoples’ lives, encouraging others and paying them compliments, or buying a coffee or meal for a colleague or stranger.
Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)
- Jesus Made an Everyday Moment a Spiritual Experience
We should be ready and willing to take hold of an opportunity to shift an everyday moment with someone into a spiritual experience. In our interactions with people we may ask God for insight or a prophetic word, share our testimony of what Jesus has done in our lives, share a Bible truth and explain how it has impacted our life or could impact theirs, or offer to pray for them. We have been given the responsibility to mirror God and provide a bridge for people to know Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:16 says we are no longer to regard anyone from a worldly point of view. No longer should we see people just as a friend, a family member, boss or work colleague, local barista or shop assistant … we need to see them as people who are on the journey to meeting Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:14-20 (NLT)
We are the ‘Everyday Church’. The church is every believer in C3 SYD, every day of the week, being Jesus’ ambassador/ representative/ light to whomever we interact with. Together, we as the church can impact individuals.
Something to talk about:
- What drives you / satisfies you on a day to day basis? Do you feel it aligns with the will of God?
- How would getting up and going about your day and work tomorrow look different if you went about considering the one person you could impact and bring into God’s kingdom?
- Consider what could be a next step in intentionally reaching out...such as praying for someone or buying them a coffee, doing a kind deed etc.
- Pray for an opportunity to stop and take time to initiate a conversation with someone this week.
