Great Lent March 2012
Your prayer must be turned inwards, not towards a God of Heaven nor towards a God far off, but towards a God who is closer than you are aware.
“Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?’ They came out of the town and made their way toward him” (vv ). "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."(Act 4:12).
The Spirit comes gently and makes himself known by his fragrance. He is not felt as a burden, for he is light, very light. Rays of light and knowledge stream before him as he approaches. The Spirit comes with the tenderness of a true friend and protector to save, to heal, to teach, to counsel, to strengthen, to console.
The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, V28 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. Phil 3:8
"...nothing pleases God more than when we hasten to obey His will." St. Simeon the New Theologian.
And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I [ever] did." v39 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Rom 1:16
"Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" v29 “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water” (Jeremiah 2:13).
1) She made a CONFESSION of faith. 2) She experienced a CHANGE of values. 3) She Accepted a Challenge 4) She demonstrated a CONCERN for the lost
Let us return from that Table like lions breathing out fire, terrifying to the devil! St John Chrysostom