A Story of Love and Acceptance

John 4: 39a

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him

because of the word of the woman who testified.

 

 

In John 4, we read of the story of the woman known to us as the woman at the well. Several things stand out to me about this story. In John 4:5, we see that Jesus had been on a journey and was weary from his journey. Yet, in the very next verse, we see that Jesus began to share the gospel with the woman at the well. How often are we weary from life that we simply do not have the energy to pour into others or invest our time? The Bible tells us that Jesus experienced the same emotions we as humans experience, like weariness! He was weary and tired yet that did not stop him from doing the work he was supposed to do. This is a wake up call to me! How many people am I missing the opportunity to share Christ with simply because I am too weary to share? Are you too weary to be doing God's work? If so, prioritize! Make time to be able to invest in others and do the work God has called you to do.

 

Secondly, I love the verse John 4:39, "And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified." The woman at the well was certainly not a religious leader. Actually, she was the opposite. She was a woman who had a bad reputation for her immorality in her life. But God doesn't need only religious leaders to do His work. He works through those who are willing to share! This woman was so astounded by Jesus that she went quickly and shared what He had done. Simply through her sharing what God had done, she was able to reach many people. That is so encouraging! God can use YOU no matter what your past! He will accept  us despite all of our faults and shortcomings. Sometimes we use our shortcomings and past as a excuse not to share what God has done for us. Perhaps there are sins in your past you are ashamed of. When God changes us, others take notice! I encourage you today, don't let any shortcomings or past sins keep you from sharing how God has transformed your life. Let the story in todays reading be a reminder to us that God can use all of us!

 

What did God speak to you about through the reading today? We would love to have you share in the comments below!

 

Katie

 











In the beginning was Jesus... and Jesus was God

I read a commentary about the book of John that described how to read it.  It said it was like eating a rich dessert, being so rich theologically and best digested when savored slowly.    Who doesn't like a good dessert? I mean, seriously?! =)

 Have you thought about reading God's Word with the same delight?   I have found that when we do anticipate it like that rich, creamy, chocolate (now you know my favorite!)  dessert...  we find it so flavorful!  So satisfying!   If we only read it as a checklist, that is exactly what we will have.  A completed check list.   I know this, and yet some days I still find I just check it off my list. 

My prayer is that the women who follow the reading plan this month will not just check it off our to do list, but we will truly take time to savor it slowly.  I am determined to daily ask God for help to do this for myself.  I challenge each of you to do the same!

If you are struggling with a constant time in Gods word and this is yet another attempt at doing it, let me suggest this to you:

*Set a time! ( I believe early morning is best but there was a time in my life that would not work at all)

*Keep that time!~guard it like you do any appointment you set

*Pray! first asking God to clear your mind of distractions and then ask Him to show you something  from the reading, to speak to your heart. 

*Write it down!  If God speaks to you about something or maybe draws you to a specific verse- WRITE IT DOWN!  We are busy women!  You need to write it down!  The enemy wants you to forget about it and you will after diaper changes, phone calls, laundry,  and dinner plates and everything else your day has.

*Re-read it!  Yes! Re-Read it!  

You need to do this more some days than others.  Get serious about this!  Do you want to hear from God or not!!????  I do!   And I know sometimes I read it the first time and by verse 12 I'm reading, but I'm thinking about finishing my grocery list, or picking up that medicine, or the fact that my dog is a month and a half past time for her vet visit!  

You know what I mean! =)  We all do it!  We can be amazing at multitasking as women!  However, now is not the time for that.  We need to focus on what God has for us!
*Application -ask God how any of it can apply to your daily life. 

Now, let's talk about the book of John!  

Today the reading is for John chapter 1.

The book of John is the last of the four gospels.  It is different than the others.  If you look at the end of the book, in John 20:31  you see stated the reason of this gospel.  "That you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God"
The word BELIEVE is our key word!  Its found over 90 times in the book of John.
The other gospels start with the birth of Jesus. Jesus becomes flesh. Lives as man.  In John's gospel we see  Jesus is God.
The book of John starts out "in the beginning" Just like in Genesis, it takes us to the beginning of creation.  We see in John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God".
 In this passage  "the Word" can be substituted with "JESUS".
So now read it like that..  
"In the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God"

We see by just this first verse John is emphasizing the deity of Jesus..  he came and dwelt among us as flesh.. but he was always God.  He was there from the beginning of time.  He was not created.  He was the creator.
 In EVERY chapter of the book you will see the deity of Christ. 
 He wasn't sent to the world to become the Son of God.  He IS the Son of God! He IS the eternal Word.  
"Jesus is the Jehovah of the Old Testament, God manifest in the flesh."   
"Jesus is called "The Word".  He came to declare God, to tell about God.   As words give voice to thoughts, so Christ gives substance to God.  Words reveal the heart and mind, so Christ expresses, manifests and shows God.  Jesus said to Philip, "if you had known me, ye should have known my Father also." ( John 1:14)"  -( Henrietta Mears, What the Bible is All About)

I grew up going to church.  I have always (as long as I can remember) BELIEVED that Jesus was God.  The Son.  The 2nd person of the Trinity. However, there are some who do not believe this. I read in a commentary that this gospel was written later than the others. It was written because false teachers were coming in denying that Jesus was the Son of God come in the form of man. John wrote this book to record eyewitness accounts and the words and works of Jesus to reveal the truth-- He is the Messiah! 

I know that there is so much "falling away" from the TRUTH in our world today. We must always emphasize the deity of Christ.  Jesus is our LIGHT. He is our Salvation.  Some try to take the deity out of Christ and make him just a teacher, prophet, or good man.  People need to believe in JESUS in order to be saved!  People need to know this!   I pray you will meditate on the words of John as I have.  And I pray God will use it to speak to your heart as He has mine. 

I read over and over this first chapter trying to figure out ONE thing to pull out. I had a problem.  I am seeing SO many important things to pull out!  The person who said it was so rich was so right!  ( and this is just ch.1!!!)

We see Jesus is God, He was there from the beginning. 
We see Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us. 
We see he did not cease being God. He was God-man.
We see Jesus is called the "Lamb of God", "creator", "the only begotten of the Father".
We see the way of Salvation:  to believe and receive. 
WE see Jesus is the Life which is the Light of men.
We see the beginning of Jesus public ministry. 
We see that Jesus calls us to follow Him.

One of the many things I did see that God spoke to me about  from this chapter was how in verse 35 you see John was standing with 2 of his disciples and when Jesus walked by, John the Baptist said to them "Behold, the Lamb of God!"  It then goes on to say the disciples heard him and they began to follow Jesus. {He pointed them to Jesus}  They then went and told others they had found the Messiah!  They called their friends and family to follow with them!   
I am a mom.  I have 4 little disciples. (some not so little any more) 
Am I pointing them to Jesus EVERY way that I should?   So that they will go find others as well and point their friends and family to Jesus?!   
I want to be a TRUE FOLLOWER of Christ!  A true follower/disciple gets others to follow too! 
 No matter what life throws my way... I want and need to make sure that what I am focused on MOST is pointing my disciples to Jesus!!!  That IS the most important thing!  
What did you see in this chapter that maybe God spoke to you about? 
We would love for you to share! 
{{ All post will not be this long!!  =) I promise!!!  }}

Welcome!

Welcome!  I am so excited that you have chosen to be a part of our Fayette Baptist Ladies' reading group for the month of February.  I pray that each of you will be blessed as you take part in this endeavor. 

As women, we make so many decisions every day:  What will I wear today?  Will my kids get to eat breakfast today? - no, for you great moms, What will I cook my children for breakfast? :)  What do I need to prepare for dinner? How will I respond when my child drops his orange juice all over his clothes right before we have to leave for school?  On and on the decisions go all day.  Some decisions are more of "instantaneous" decisions - reactions to things happening around us.  But other decisions are conscientious, thought out decisions.  I pray that each of you will make a conscientious decision to take time to read your one chapter of John every weekday this month.  Decide to make it a non-negotiable priority in your day.

The reading plan is as follows:

Week One

February  2:  John 1

February  3:  John 2

February  4:  John 3

February  5:  John 4

February  6:  John 5

Week Two

February  9:  John 6

February 10: John 7

February 11: John 8

February 12: John 9

February 13: John 10

Week Three

February 16: John 11

February 17: John 12

February 18: John 13

February 19: John 14

February 20: John 15&16

Week Four

February 23: John 17

February 24: John 18

February 25: John 19

February 26: John 20

February 27: John 21

 

 

Three days a week, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, we will have four ladies from our church sharing their thoughts on what we have been recently reading.  You can either check the blog post each day to see the new posts, or you can click on the Tab in the right hand corner that says "Follow by Email", and it will allow you to plug in your email address, and each time a new post is written, it will come directly to your email!  Be sure to check the blog daily, however you so choose, so that you can get the most out of the reading group.  Feel free to comment in the comment section below each post in regards to what you are learning as God speaks to you, or as you are blessed by our contributors' posts.  

Let's join together and hold one another accountable to reading the book of John this month!  Pray for consistency.  Pray for the other ladies reading.  Pray that God will do a work in all of us and that we will be changed by what we read.

 

Take the next three days to pray and prepare for what God is going to teach you this month.

 

See you Monday morning!

-Stacy