"Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."" John 4:10 NASB

I absolutely love the Word of God! I love it for a myriad of reasons not the least of which is that it gives me insight into my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! The account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacobs well is so rich with insights, and life applications. Please open your Bible to chapter four of John and read along with me, I am using the NASB. I will share what I discovered and will note the verse that I am referencing with each life application and or truth revealed.

1.(verse 6) Opportunities for witnessing rarely come when we are looking for them, or when we feel like witnessing, so we must always be ready. [Supporting scripture, 1 Peter 3:15; "Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence."
2.(verse 7) God always takes the initiative in calling out to sinners. [Supporting scripture, John 15:16; "You did not choose Me but I chose you..."]
3.(verse 9) God is never bound by the traditions and prejudices of mankind and neither should I allow worldly ways to restrict what God would have me to do. [Supporting scripture, Matthew 15:3; "And He answered and said to them, "Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?""
4.(verse 10) Jesus got right to the point with this woman and He offered her His grace immediately, nothing required on her part but acceptance just as He does today in 2011! The life application, I can share the Good News with a total stranger and the power of the gospel will bring them to Christ. I have experienced this in real life, it is true, God is true to His Word!!
5.(verses 11-12) She "heard" what He was saying and responded with an inquiry, keeping the dialogue open between them.

6.(verses 13-14) Jesus full of mercy and grace, humbly, patiently and kindly begins to open her mind and give to her understanding. (Supporting scripture, Romans 2:4; "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"
7.(verse 15) She responds to His offer of living water and asks for it. [Supporting scripture, Matthew 7:7; "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you."]
8.(verse 16) Jesus tests her heart (Supporting scripture, Deuteronomy 8:16; "In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end."
9.(verse 17a) She doesn't play games with Jesus she is honest. Life application time...
10.(verse 18) Jesus then begins ever so gently and mercifully to reveal the sinful state of her soul, not to condemn but so that she might be saved. Life application, I must approach the lost as Jesus did, not condemning them but showing His love and mercy to them.

This concludes the first half of the account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman. The ending will be posted on Monday November 7. I never post on Sundays, enjoy your weekend!