May 5
Judg 21:1 - Ruth 1:22 | PS 105:1-15 | Prov 14:25 | John 4:4-42
What is it that prevents you from seeking God? Many have been inoculated with something. Understand when one gets a vaccine, the purpose is to inoculate a dead, fake, or weakened form of the real bacteria or virus. This helps build immunity when confronted with the real thing. The same holds true with faith. Many are inoculated with religion. It often doesn't matter exactly which kind of a religion, just some form of external requirements which one is told to follow and when the real thing comes along, one is blinded from accepting because it stands in opposition to the false or weakened form they are comfortable with. The same holds true with intellect or knowledge that we acquire along the way through school, university, friendships, the media, etc. It's why Jesus said we must empty ourselves of pride, it is why He states we must come to Him as little children. We need to come to Him as empty vessels ready to be filled with truth, rather than full or half-full receptacles trying to figure out how we can squeeze Him in.
The Samaritan woman in John 4 had a led a sinful life, as Jesus brought to the forefront in 4:16-18. She makes a quick reference to what the Samaritans and the Jewish people claimed as a requirement for the Messiah in 4:20, "So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” Yes, she had a little inoculation, but she was extremely receptive after just a short encounter with Jesus, as we see the result in 4:28-30, "The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him." What Jesus offered, and for that matter what we offer when reaching out to those who don't know Him is fresh. The purpose is not to make it fit into some model put together by religion or societal norms. When we realize this we can step out in boldness, as Jesus stated in 4:34-36, "Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!"
Part of the beauty of Ruth is that she did not come with pre-conceived expectations, she was not bogged down with layers of religious expectation. She simply wanted to assist Naomi, and follow her God, as she so beautifully states in Ruth 1:16, " But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God." The world has so many possibilities when we leave ourselves open to the full counsel of God.'
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: