“Come see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” (John 4:29)
Lord Jesus, this one verse is a perfect invitation into the soon-upon-us season of Advent. While enjoying the things we love most about Thanksgiving weekend, the lights, sights, sounds of Christmas move right in—just as it should be. Holiday gatherings often underscore how much we need you.
No one better understood why you came into our world than the Samaritan women you met at Jacob’s well (John 4:1–42). She was playing hide and hide some more. But you came to seek, find, and love. She expected ridicule and judgment, you gave her mercy and kindness. You met her deep thirst with a deeper love. You gave her the only water that satisfies—living water.
You do the same for us. You came into our world to set us free, not weigh us down—to grace us, not shame us—to announce the year of the Lord’s favor, not the forever of his unremitting disappointment. Hallelujah … Jesus you came to save us not condemn us (John 3:17).
You took our judgment and gave us your righteousness. We cannot over-believe this is true, savor it as our treasure, and graciously extend it to others—like the Samaritan woman did. Her gratitude, humility, and kindness are so attractive to us.
That’s timely, Lord. This weekend we’ve been with family and friends who remain strangers to your love, indifferent to your welcome, and clueless about your grace. Though our default mode is to stress, fear, and find some way to fix them, we want to be different.
Only you can save, Jesus, and you are awesome at it. Make us magnets of your mercy, fountains of your grace-water, and more trusting of your work in the lives of people we love. So Very Amen.