Without exception, everyone wants to be known and loved for who we are.  Our default is, we all desire to belong and to be accepted for who we are and not for what we do and what we have.

Every time I am reminded by the woman at the well, courage rises up from deep within me.  Jesus knowing ALL about the woman didn’t distance Himself from her.  Instead He asked her for a drink though it was unlikely for a Jew to deal with Samaritans.  He made known to her Who He was by saying,  “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)  Furthermore, He said, “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.” (John 4:13-14)

What a glorious encounter the woman had that even when Jesus asked about her husband whom she didn’t have, she wasn’t condemned nor felt condemned at all. On the contrary, she perceived Him to be a prophet.  Interestingly, this is a picture of how Jesus’ presence impregnates the atmosphere with His love, giving hope to the those who are hopeless in the eyes of men.

After being gently confronted by the love of Jesus, she left her waterpot, though she came to the well to draw water, and went her way to the city.  She made known to men Who she just encountered with and many believed in Him because of her word, “He told me ALL that I ever did.” (John 4:39)

Come to think of it, the only One Who knows EVERYTHING that we have done, are doing and are going to do is Jesus, BUT our security and confidence lies on His love that is unconditional and unfailing.  There is nothing we can do to make Him love us more and there is nothing that we’ve done that will make Him love us less. His love is steadfast.

He SURELY knows that when we get to encounter Him, we will never be the same again.  We are forever accepted in the Beloved by the power of the finished work of Jesus Christ. He made The Way. He is The Way for us to be reconciled back into the loving embrace of our Heavely Father.

He is the Lord of Righteousness dwelling inside of us Who will make things right in our lives and the Holy Spirit graces us to live rightfully before His eyes depriving sin to have dominion over us because we are under grace.  (Romans 6:14)  He sees us with compassion, never condemning but forever assuring and reassuring.  He sees us who we are to become IN HIM.

When the Samaritans came to Jesus because of the woman’s word, they urged Him to stay with them and yes He stayed for two days.  “And many more believed because of His own word.  Then they said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we KNOW that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” (John 4:41-42)

Do you know that Jesus is the greatest Networker of all times.  Just with one encounter with the woman at the well caused the whole village to come to know Him.  A person’s testimony indeed is a spirit of prophecy.  Many believed because of the woman who testified but later on these people uttered, “NOW we believe” no longer because of the woman’s report but because they themselves heard Jesus and encountered Him personally.

You and I are called to carry the love of Jesus and see those around us with knowledge and compassion that they too have been created according to His image and likeness, so loved by Him. It may not be easy to walk in love but we have been given the exceeding greatness of His power at work in us in the presence of the Holy Spirit abiding in us forever.

I was invited to go out of town for an overnight stay. It was indeed a fun-filled getaway having spent this precious time with my former colleagues.

The next morning, I was second to the last to get up. Before I got out of bed, a simple question I uttered silently to my surprise. “Why am I here, Lord? Hmmm … though I knew I was there for that short and sweet gathering. He impressed in my heart these words, “pray for the husband of your host who is about to undergo a kidney transplant.” Without hesitation I answered, “Yes, Lord!”

As we were all gathered at the dining table for breakfast, I heard a few of them said, “Let us pray!” Before I knew it, they pointed at me to lead the prayer. I just smiled and started to pray. Oh how I felt the Lord’s love and compassion for the husband that when I was done, his wife was in tears, taken aback and overwhelmed that words of healing and wholeness were spoken. For me, it was such a glorious moment to behold.

The Lord has a million and one ways to express His love in and through us. With me at that point in time, it was to pray and declare words of life and encouragement.

He FIRST LOVED us and His unfailing love filling and flooding us will cause us to OVERFLOW to others. We freely give what we freely received. And He is all the while effectually creating and birthing in us the power and desire to will and to do what He has called us to do and that is to WALK IN LOVE for His own pleasure, satisfaction and delight.

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”  (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You, for filling and flooding us with the greatest measure of Your divine presence that we get to be a body filled and flooded with Yourself, as You pour profusely Your love in us and through us.  Thank You for choosing us and marking us to be the symbol and resource of Your love, planted into this world full of people hungry to be known and loved by who they are that only You can fill and satisfy.  Grant us the grace to be sensitive to Your leading, to be Your co-networkers of Your kingdom until the whole earth is filled with the knowledge of Your glory as the waters cover the sea, in Jesus’ Name.  Amen!