"The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?"
John 4:28-29
This is part of the story of the Woman at the Well, which is a great story if you haven't read it already. I love this part because she originally came out of the city to get water, and what she hears is so amazing that she leaves without water, without her waterpot, and can speak of nothing else but Christ. She wants other people to see and hear and know of him, because she knows he is the Christ. It reminds me a little bit of Abish in the Book of Mormon, although we don't know this woman's name, and she didn't have to deal with a lot of the crowd disbelieving her (at least it doesn't seem so from what we know).
I also love that earlier in the story, although Christ talked with her about her multiple relationships, he didn't shun her or condemn her. He still invited her to come and learn of him. He loved her and welcomed her company and included her in his fold. And that seems like exactly what we should do in similar circumstances.
I think we freeze up sometimes around people that we know aren't living in the way we believe to be God's way. We wonder how to act or whether what we say or do will seem to approve of or condone their behavior. ... In circumstances like those, perhaps we can remember this story, and remember that the answer is always, always, reaching out with love. God loves us all, sinners or ... well, none of use are "not" sinners, so I suppose sinners in one way or sinners in a different way. He loves us even when we have obvious and severe problems that we still need to overcome. He wants to help us, not condemn us.
Today, let's be as excited about God as the woman at the well was, and let's also reach out in love to the people around us, welcoming them and including them, whoever they are, and however they live.
Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?"
John 4:28-29
This is part of the story of the Woman at the Well, which is a great story if you haven't read it already. I love this part because she originally came out of the city to get water, and what she hears is so amazing that she leaves without water, without her waterpot, and can speak of nothing else but Christ. She wants other people to see and hear and know of him, because she knows he is the Christ. It reminds me a little bit of Abish in the Book of Mormon, although we don't know this woman's name, and she didn't have to deal with a lot of the crowd disbelieving her (at least it doesn't seem so from what we know).
I also love that earlier in the story, although Christ talked with her about her multiple relationships, he didn't shun her or condemn her. He still invited her to come and learn of him. He loved her and welcomed her company and included her in his fold. And that seems like exactly what we should do in similar circumstances.
I think we freeze up sometimes around people that we know aren't living in the way we believe to be God's way. We wonder how to act or whether what we say or do will seem to approve of or condone their behavior. ... In circumstances like those, perhaps we can remember this story, and remember that the answer is always, always, reaching out with love. God loves us all, sinners or ... well, none of use are "not" sinners, so I suppose sinners in one way or sinners in a different way. He loves us even when we have obvious and severe problems that we still need to overcome. He wants to help us, not condemn us.
Today, let's be as excited about God as the woman at the well was, and let's also reach out in love to the people around us, welcoming them and including them, whoever they are, and however they live.
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