That You May Believe - October 27th

That You May Believe - Week 7 Recap

Last week we experienced the narrative of the Samaritan woman at Jacobs well and her life-altering encounter with Jesus. Jesus crossed cultural and religious barriers to lean into her heart with grace and forgiveness. Jesus aggressively yet lovingly pursues her through the revealing of her human condition and the fix for that condition. Jesus "outs" her as it relates to her current relationship status and past relationships as well. What is her response to this loving yet authentic conversation with Christ? She responds by returning to the city of her origin and telling those that daily judge her about this man who has told me all I have ever done. She even poses the question, "Can this be the Christ."

If our obedience to Christ looks anything like this, then we can safely say that biblical obedience is not a response to commands but an experience. Jesus only tells her to go and bring your husband, and that was a statement to open her heart, Jesus knew she had no husband. This broken, sinful, and victimized woman responds not because she wants to earn something from the Son of God, she's not even sure who He is. She just knows what He has done thus far in her life and has to tell even the judgmental people of her community.

If we have genuinely experienced God's grace, then the resulting response in our lives is obedience. As Jesus says in John 4:34 that His food is doing the will of the Father, then obedience is food for our soul as well. When we view obedience as a product of our grace experience and as food to nourish our soul, then all commands from Christ lead to joy. Continuing to do the Father's will through the grace and righteousness of His Son leads to the only real and lasting joy in the journey. Use this understanding of obedience as the lens in which we see life through today.

Go and tell everyone, friend, and foe to come and see the man who has told you everything that you have ever done and did not condemn you.

Scripture

John 4:1-45

I John 5:1-20

Let's Chat

Let's keep the conversation going. Use the following questions to discuss with your family, friends, or discussion group.

1. Why are you struggling with obedience?

2. What or where are you struggling with obedience? Name it or name them.

Now put on the lens of obedience. Obedience is a response of grace, and the only path to real, lasting joy. Take a long look at the area(s) of disobedience in your life, you named above, with this lens of grace-driven obedience and submit to Christ and prepare for joy.

Miss Sunday?

If you didn't get a chance to hear Sunday's message, check out the link below to watch. (Sunday message videos are usually available Sunday afternoon.)