Beautiful Encounter

It's known as a special meeting, an unexpected experience. It's an ENCOUNTER.

I'm sure there are many who have met some famous singer or actor and they leave that person excited about their encounter. You know what I mean, when someone famous signs a book or someone is so excited because they shook the hand of their favorite actor and now they're never going to wash their hand again. I dare say that none of those encounters ever really changed anyone though. Those encounters don't last forever, we can't live off of those encounters for the rest of our lives.

There is one lady though, who did have an ENCOUNTER that changed her life forever. To her, it was an ordinary day and I'm sure she didn't expect anything extraordinary to happen. She was taking on a familiar chore at an unusual time of day. She chose this time of day so she could be alone. No one there to whisper or point fingers. It was most likely the hottest part of the day, but she didn't mind because she would be alone. And when you're an outcast you find a false sense of peace in being alone.

She soon realized she was not going to be alone, but at least it was a Jewish man who wouldn't dare speak to her anyway. But....then.... HE did. Surely, she misunderstood or imagined that He asked her for a drink. Her, a Samaritan woman? Nope, she had not imagined it, He was speaking directly to her.

Then the conversation continues....

"Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

 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.” The woman said to Him, Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?
 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”
Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,   but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” John 4:9-15

"The woman said to Him, I know that the Messiah is coming (who is called Christ). When He comes, He will tell us all things." "Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He." John 4:25-26

Jesus, the Savior of the world declares who He is to a Samaritan woman first. He went through Samaria solely to pursue this woman. He saw her. He loved her. He knew her worth when she did not.

I gave my mother pottery for Christmas last year. It caught my eye because it's a water pot that is turned over with water spilling out. It reminded me of my favorite verses in John 4. Verses 28-30.......

"The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ? Then they went out of the city and came to Him."

She left her water pot and ran to tell everyone about Jesus. She was no longer afraid or concerned what others thought of her. She had an ENCOUNTER with Jesus and she could not keep it to herself. She left the water which she came for and took hold of the Living Water and could not keep quiet about her encounter.

Oh I long to be like this woman, to drop whatever seems important to me to declare to the world who Jesus is. I have encountered Him and He completely changed my life, in fact He is still changing me. That is the beautiful part, we can encounter Him every day. This woman was no longer concerned about the opinions of others, she now knew her worth.  She just had to share Jesus because she was compelled by His love to do so.

In Acts 4, Peter and John are told to stop preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus and in verse 20 they exclaim  " As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

 Yes! Lets be a people who just can't help ourselves!  I heard someone say once "if you knew Jesus like I know Him, you couldn't shut up about Him either." We must proclaim Jesus no matter if its politically incorrect, no matter if we are mocked, no matter if we are persecuted. This. world. needs. Jesus! Lets drop our water pots and proclaim Him to everyone!

If you have not encountered Jesus, will you seek Him? Don't put it off, you can encounter Him today! I know He is in pursuit of you. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He loves you and wants an intimate relationship with you.  He promises in Jeremiah 29:13 "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."

"Jesus changes everything
There is no greater mystery
That God would come to rescue me
From who I was

The kindness of my Savior calls
Me to the wonder of His love
Jesus changes everything
And He is changing me"