Words of Life

       A little child grows up unnoticed in a dysfunctional home, into an outwardly ‘good’ but inwardly ‘soiled’ and sinful woman.  Despite the new life in Christ as a teen, she struggles for years in specific areas where it seems victory will never be found.  Into the midst of several backslidden times, and occasionally in the midst of sinful acts she hears the gentle voice of a man.  The things He says breaks her heart over and over again as she learns more about him: ‘I love you. You are mine. Be with me. I love you. Return to me. Come to me.  I love you.’  The man is Jesus, and I am that woman.

part of painting by Annibale Carracci

       Jesus spoke to another sinful woman- from a disreputable past in a place loathed by Jews.  The Samaritan woman is known typically as the woman at the well. (John 4)  Samaritans were a blend of Jew and non- Jew (Babylonians, Macedonians) who held to a mix of Judaism and idol worship and renounced their heritage several times when in fear of arriving governments.  This is why they were despised by most Jews.  Her past was littered with fornication.  She had three strikes against her: a woman*, a Samaritan, a sinner.

       The woman questions Jesus right from the start about her womanhood and being a Samaritan (v.9).  In the midst of all her faults Jesus brings words of life (v. 10), life available to her (v. 14).  After He exposes her sin (v. 18) the woman no longer sees Him just as a Jew, but as a prophet (v. 19). Then Jesus proceeds to tell her that external forms (sacrifices) of worship in external places are soon to be past, but God wants those who worship with their whole hearts in truth (v. 21-24).  After Jesus declares Himself, the woman believes in Jesus as Messiah/ Christ (v. 29).

       So we see that Jesus spoke words of life into this woman’s heart, in the depth of her sin and shame.  Jesus didn’t turn away because she was a woman, a Samaritan and a sinner, but He boldly spoke the words of life.  By doing this, He not only rescued her, but the town came out to hear Him and who knows how many were saved.  One woman He saved back then and 2000 years later using His words of life, He saved another… me. 

Oh Lord,

     For every time You didn’t turn away from me for my sin

     For every time You didn’t leave me because of my unfaithfulness to You

     For every time You spoke words of life into my heart

                    I am forever grateful!  Thank You Lord.

*There was a rabbinical precept: “Let no one talk with a woman in the street, no, not with his own wife” (Lightfoot, Hor, Hebr. iii. 287). 

Speaking to a woman publicly was especially beneath a rabbi’s dignity and his disciples considered Jesus a rabbi (v. 31 master = rabbi).

He’s Got His Eye on You

       Many of us go through our days not thinking about the Lord and the fact He sees what we are doing, hears what we are saying, and knows what we are thinking.  We might wonder of what importance humanity could be to the Lord that He watches every human all the time… and just how does He do that anyway?  There are some things we may never completely comprehend.  So, what is the purpose behind Him watching us?

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him… 2Ch. 16:9

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Pr. 15:3

From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.  Ps. 33:14

Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;  Ps. 33:18

       The Lord is looking for those whose hearts are perfect (complete, friendly, whole) toward Him, who fear Him and hope in his kindness.  He also sees the good and evil in the earth, and I suppose one day He will utilize this information to make honest judgments in the end times.  So, the Lord has good reasons to watch us.  And though I didn’t look for scriptures, I would think He loves to watch us as His children just as we love to watch our children.  Isn’t it true that when they’re asleep, they look so innocent?  I wonder if He thinks the same.

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.  Ps. 32:8

The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.  Ps. 34:15

       God is not an ‘out there’ God, but an ‘Emmanuel’ or ‘God with us’ (Mt. 1:23) God.  In other words, He wants to be an active part of our lives.  He wants to instruct, teach and guide us on the journey we walk and generally, all guides do better with their eyes open.  Plus, He wants to show Himself strong in our lives, and see when we are in need of Him.  Every good parent knows we need to keep our eyes on our children for reasons of love and security.  We want to see when they need us so we can respond.  God is our Father, 

(Ep. 1:2) and we can’t expect Him to be any different.

The Lord’s got His eye on you, and you are the apple (fig. little man, daughter) of His eye.

                                                                                                                  (Ps. 17:8)

A Dreaded Day

       Faiza sat in her dilapidated house, the hot African sun shining through the open window, watching her handsome, young son nap.  This was it, the time she most dreaded.  There was nothing left for her to sell and she only had two plantains and a little oil to fry up for one last meal.  Faiza, weak with hunger and tormented by her inability to feed her son Taji, went outside to gather sticks to burn so she could cook their last meal.  A deep sadness gripped her heart.  Where was the God she served?

       A stranger walked up to Faiza as she worked in the heat of the day and asked for some water to drink.  There was no harm in that, so she went to get the water.  As she walked away, he said, “Please give me some plantain.”  Faiza doesn’t say no, are you crazy, go away, or try next door, instead she states a fact, “I have only two plantains and some oil for frying which I plan to eat with my son before we die.  The stranger replies, “Don’t be afraid, make me some first, then take what’s left over and cook it for the two of you.” And then he claims the Lord will never allow their plantain and oil containers to be empty until the rain returns.  Faiza did as told.

See below for the real story*

       I have to ask myself if I would have done the same; give any portion of my son’s and my last meal to a man I didn’t even know (the widow’s lack of greeting or plea for help shows she didn’t know him).  What made her do as requested?  Perhaps her heart was open to Elijah’s faith in God concerning the food, or perhaps she knew a man would be coming as the word ‘commanded’ could indicate (although the word also means: appointed, established, instructed).  Of course, I guess at that point you have nothing to lose because you’re going to die anyway! 

       Still, for the time it took her to set the fire, and cook the food for the stranger, she must have wondered if she was doing the right thing.  Handing it to him would also cause her to question again.  Then she would have gone back and looked discouragingly at what was left, such a small amount for her and her precious son!  Sometimes we get discouraged at what we have and wonder where God is.  Other times we question if we should still be giving or serving because nothing good seems to come from it.

       At some point, if we are to find peace, we must decide to trust God and His plan/ promises/ provision for us.  It is not easy to do when faced with insurmountable odds, but I have discovered it is possible.  First, we have to remember who God is, and then we have to remember who we are in Him and believe that He will work things out for our good somehow. (Rom. 8:28) As David said, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God… will be with thee; he will not fail thee… (1Ch. 28:20)

       The blessings will eventually come- maybe not just at the time we prefer!  God’s promise to the widow came true and while the famine continued her meal and oil never went dry.  He provided what she needed for her and her son.  But first, she had to step out in faith and give away a most precious resource believing God’s word over what her natural eyes were seeing.

Lord, help us to be that way!

*…get thee to Zarephath… I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee… when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink… And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.

And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah. 1Kn. 17:9-16