Posted on October 9, 2022 Posted By: HCCCategories: journey
Heartland Community Church
THE JOURNEY
I’ve Got A Friend You Might Enjoy
By Chris Woodward
When I look back at the woman at the well, I imagine she was in the presence of others, but still lonely. Jesus reaches out to her in a moment, and she is open to the interaction and ultimately to change. This is the same way our neighbors, family, friends…even ourselves…experience life. Together, but alone. In a crowd, but searching for connection. For many of us a couple of people in our lives came to mind when we read the words above. How many of us are sitting in this moment, looking for others to invite us to go fishing, to the ballgame, or just over for a cup of coffee. One thing I love in this story is that Jesus is on his way somewhere, yet still inviting others to become known.
Inviting others into a healthy and honest relationship with the creator of the universe can be a difficult task. There are so many reasons people are far from God. They have heard (or experienced) bad things from Jesus’ followers. Today it feels that everyone has had bad things happen to them and their loved ones. Many seem to expect God to swoop in like a Marvel character and set things right. Or a bit closer to the heart of Kansas City, for number 15 to make a play that puts the game out of reach. When that does not happen, resentment and distrust can grow.
God, our father, allows us to wrestle with circumstances, control, and decisions, and learn to lean on him as we grow for connection, comfort and confidence. Perhaps God chooses to wait for us to invite others to him. To reach out a hand, to open the door, to have someone to walk through the moments of life with. to find the confidence to say to someone else, "Hey, I have a friend you might enjoy meeting."
Our question as followers of Jesus becomes “am I that person.” Am I the person that puts down the bucket, or the net, and becomes one of the sign posts pointing others toward a healthy and honest relationship with Jesus? Sharing our story of what Jesus has done in us is one of the true joys in life, because it is pointing others toward Jesus.
Observe, Reflect, Apply: Whose life and story first intrigued you enough to learn more about Jesus? What story has Jesus written in your life that you can share with others? Who has Jesus placed in your world that you could say, "Come see what Jesus has done for me…" to? Praying that we each find the words to change another person’s future by sharing our experience of Jesus this very week!
Paul, the writer of this letter asks them (and us) to go that one more step to take the next hill. He talks to them about their love and how well they are loving each and the other churches nearby, then he asks for just a little bit more. This little bit more is a call to excel in love directed toward “outsiders.” Who are the “outsiders” that you could show love towards this week?
Paul always ties his thoughts back to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. As if to say we do all THIS because of THAT moment in time. In obedience he keeps his heart, mind, and soul focused on what Christ had done for him and the church. What does the life of Jesus mean to you? How can understanding his life, death and resurrection impact how you follow in his steps?
Paul appears to allude to a conflict between light and dark, day and night, sleeping and waking. Paul asks his readers to equip themselves for the day, putting on the helmet, the hope of salvation and the breastplate of faith and love. How does this contrast of people of light and dark or night strike you? What preparations can you make each day to live in Jesus’ light?
Paul is really asking a lot of people, and this is only half of the list. Patient with everyone? Paul seems to ask us to choose to seek what is good for one another and all people. What would your home and family look like if everyone was choosing the best for everyone else, being patient, and seeking what is good?
Welcome to the end of the week! Some of us are looking for a soccer jersey at 1, some of us are making plans for pumpkin patches, some of us are looking for where the next meal is coming, others are praying that the news from the doctor is not as bad as we thought. Paul pulls us together and says pray, greet each other, pull together, support each other across great distance. How can you support your family and friends in this way? What prayer is on your heart today?
I can look back on the darkest days of my life and name so many who helped me up, held me up, and made room for me in their days. Sometimes the greatest joy in life is to help someone that is in need. Who can you come alongside and carry to the next step this week? How much joy would you feel in helping them get further down the road?
{extra journey resources}
CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources). You can also download The Bible Project App HERE.
CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project.
CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading.
The Bible App Get the free YouVersion Bible for your phone, tablet, or computer. Experience the Bible anywhere, with options to highlight, save notes, and share what you are reading with others.
The Bible App For Kids YouVersion partnered with OneHope to develop the Bible App for Kids, designing it specifically to engage children with Bible stories on an age-appropriate level. The Bible App for Kids is a free app for Android, Apple, and Kindle devices, available in over 60 languages.
Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
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