Episodes
Friday Apr 05, 2024
A New Creation | Class 4 - "New Picture of Self" | Malcolm Cox
Friday Apr 05, 2024
Friday Apr 05, 2024
Introduction
- Do you like how you look? Have you ever seen yourself on video?
- However, our inner view of ourselves matters much more than wether we have an accurate picture of our physical behaviour.
- Our picture of ourselves is shaped by our picture of God. Correcting the latter is vital before attempting to heal the former.
Why is my picture of myself so critical?
Christians must take this seriously because our growth into being a new creation depends on cooperating with God in his grand project to transform us into ever-increasing Christ-likeness. 2 Corinthians 3.18
To be healthy spiritually means working for God from a place of acceptance, not for acceptance. Do we truly believe there is nothing we can do to make God love us more and there is nothing we can do to make God love us less? It is vital that we find a way to deliberately surrender our need to work to be accepted.
We do this by allowing God to re-shape our picture of ourselves by contemplating what He says about us. Let's look at some Scriptures to help us with this.
What can we say about who we are?
a. You are made in the image of God - Genesis 1.27
There is a distinction between the animals and us -- the animals came from ‘the land’ - Genesis 1.24-25
Humanity is distinctive in that we were created directly by God. The animals come from the earth, we come from above.
God's creative work prior to creating humans was 'good'.
After creating humans, God said his work was very good,
Genesis 1.31
We are immeasurably valuable to God because we are his beloved little image bearers, and this makes a difference to who we think we are. It also changes what we think about other people and how we treat them. More on that later.
b. You are already accepted as God's beloved
God wants to include us in His love, John 3.16
God sent Jesus because he already loved us, not so we would become lovable. We don't always feel beloved, but God knows this and stands ready to reassure us - just like he did with Jesus.
Jesus - Mark 1.11, Matthew 17.5
If even Jesus needed reminder and affirmation -- how about us!
We are as beloved to Jesus as he is beloved by Father God - John 15.9
c. You are deeply 'warped'
- "Scripture describes man as curved in upon himself to such an extent that he bends not only physical, but also spiritual goods towards himself, seeking himself in all things." Martin Luther
- Agape love is needed for us to be in healthy relationships, but we are incapable of this without God.
- Need God to un-bend us. Can be painful, take time.
James 1.2-4
- This work of God needs to be done not so we become loveable but because he loves us and so that we can better represent him in this world.
d. I am one in whom Christ dwells and delights, John 14.23
- God isn't careless about where he lives. When he set up his home in you He did so because he loves you. Your heart is the ideal home as far as He is concerned.
Conclusion
Some suggested practices to help you piece together a more healthy picture of yourself. In other words, to see yourself as God sees you.
- Every morning, when you wake up, ask God to give you an awareness of his personal love for you. Notice what surfaces when you do this. Keep asking...
- Try repeating this phrase at points in the day: "I am one in whom Christ dwells and delights -- and l." Notice what surfaces when you do this
- Meditate on a Scripture reassuring you of God's love such as Romans 8.38-39
- Study Psalm 23 and the attitude of the shepherd (God) to his sheep (you).
- Pray through Psalm 103 -- a Psalm which praises God for His compassion and forgiveness. It emphasises God's love and mercy towards those who fear Him.
Here are some questions that might prompt a fruitful discussion with your friends:
- What knocks your view of yourself off-balance? For me, it is when I am criticised.
- What has helped you develop a more accurate picture of yourself so far? Again, a picture of yourself more in line with how God views you.
- Do you have any favourite Scriptures that help you hold on to a picture of yourself as God sees you?
- Can you sense God prompting you to focus on a particular aspect of how you view yourself? If so, what is that?
- What is it about the way Jesus sees himself (the way he perceives Father God sees him) that stands out to you?
I hope you found these thoughts helpful. Drop me a line if you have any questions or feedback: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
God bless, Malcolm
You've found an upload from the Thames Valley churches of Christ. Thank you for watching this video. If you'd like to know more go to www.thamesvalley.church where you'll find news, information, resources and much more.
Thursday Apr 04, 2024
A New Creation | Class 3 - "New Creation - New Picture" | Malcolm Cox
Thursday Apr 04, 2024
Thursday Apr 04, 2024
What is your picture of God? We're diving into deep stuff today: Our impressions of God and how they affect us. Let's take a stroll down memory lane and see how our views of God have evolved over the years.
Childhood Impressions
Remember when you were a kid? For me, God seemed distant and holy, except when I thought about Jesus. He made God feel closer, more like a friend than a distant deity. As I got older, the hymns and anthems I sang at church started making God seem more majestic, like a huge, powerful, creative force.
Why Does Our Picture of God Matter?
A.W. Tozer said,
"What comes into our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us"
It's so true, isn’t it? Our image of God shapes who we are and how we relate to others. If we see God as loving, we're more likely to be loving ourselves. But if we see Him as angry or distant, it can mess with our heads.
Dallas Willard put it this way:
"The single most important thing about us is our idea of God and its associated images."
Challenging Our Assumptions
Think about where your ideas of God came from. Were they from your parents, teachers, or that old guy at church who always preached fire and brimstone? How do we find a better picture of God? Consider the following points.
1. God is always greater (and better) than we imagine
"Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable." - Psalm 145:3 NASB
Give this verse a few moments of your time. Have you ever thought about how amazing God really is? His greatness, power, love, and light—it's mind-blowing. We’ll need to meditate on God’s greatness if we’re to get anywhere near an accurate picture of Him.
2. Revealing the True Nature of God
It's easy to get the wrong idea, like thinking God can't be trusted or that He's just waiting to punish us. But Jesus came to set the record straight. He's like God's selfie, showing us exactly what God is like in human form.
"Jesus said to him, 'Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?'" - John 14:9 NASB
3. God is closer than we imagine
We're not alone; He's always with us, guiding us, and loving us no matter what.
"and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." - Matthew 28:20 NASB
We walk through life with Jesus, accompanied by the Father and Spirit. We’ve got a tribe, we’re safe, we belong, and we know where we’re going.
4. God is Three-In-One
"'Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.'" - Matthew 28:19 NASB
His wonderful, complex, relational love is indestructible. He offers us this love to be experienced here, now, and in eternity. God’s loving creative power overflowed in creating us. Now, we get to participate in divine love.
Conclusion: Embracing Healing and Transformation
So, let's invite God to heal and shape our view of Him. When we see God as the loving, compassionate, powerful friend that He is, it changes everything. We're not alone and we’re not vulnerable; He's always with us, guiding us, strengthening us and loving us no matter what.
Let’s journey together as a church in discovery and healing. Let's explore the depths of our faith and deepen our relationship with the divine.
Your brother, Malcolm
Wednesday Mar 27, 2024
A New Creation | Class 3 - "The Aroma of Christ" | Malcolm Cox
Wednesday Mar 27, 2024
Wednesday Mar 27, 2024
Sense of smell
In terms of the number of distinguishable stimuli, our sense of smell can detect thousands of different odours. Additionally, smell is closely linked to memory and emotion. During the COVID epidemic many sufferers lost their sense of smell, and speaking for myself I’ve occasionally experienced phantom smells - quite often dog poo! What do smells have to do with Easter?
Death smells bad
Perhaps you remember Martha’s comment when Jesus ordered that the stone blocking Lazarus’ tomb be removed:
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.”” (John 11:39 NIV11)
It’s not surprising Martha was reluctant to open the tomb. After four days of death, she knew her brother’s body would smell bad. Spices were used to reduce the bad smell. Consider what happened when Jesus was buried:
“Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.” (John 19:39-40 NIV11)
The women who followed Jesus planned to finish the work Nicodemus had started:
“When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.” (Mark 16:1-2)
Death smells bad. There is no way around it. It smells bad to human noses and to human hearts. The finality of it, the emptiness of it, the uselessness of it frustrates us. What is it for? No one knows — except Jesus.
Resurrection life smells good
When Peter and John reached the tomb they noticed something. The wrappings were there, but the body was not.
“[John] bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.” (John 20:3-8 NIV11)
Soon afterwards, Mary sees Jesus. She does not recognise him, thinking he is the gardener. Then he speaks, and she realises it is him. What does she not see? What did the Apostles not see? Spices. There is no mention of spices. The angels in the tomb don’t mention them, nor do the Apostles or any of the witnesses. Why no spices? Because there is no bad smell!
God smells the good
The writers of Scripture often mix literal and metaphorical ideas. Themes like ‘light and darkness’, ‘water’, ‘wilderness’, ‘the shepherd and his flock’ and ‘the garden’ have both physical and spiritual meanings. The same is true of good and bad smells. Noah’s sacrifice after exiting the ark is described like this:
“The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood…” (Gen. 8:21)
Our prayers smell like incense to God:
“…the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” (Revelation 5:8)
Our sacrifices and prayers create a pleasant aroma to God. But how do we smell to our neighbours?
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.” (2 Corinthians 2:14-16 NIV11)
We smell like Jesus
Our lives remind people of the Son of God so much that it is as if we smell like him.We are the aroma of death for those who wish for no change. In other words, we do not smell like hope to them because it is not the kind of hope they want. However, to those who want change, desire to be different and who are looking for meaning, purpose and healing, we smell like life. What kind of life? Resurrection life. Eternal life. New creation life. Christ’s life.
Here’s an unusual definition of a disciple of Jesus - ‘Someone who smells like Jesus.’ What do you think? Is that a reasonable claim? If so, what does it mean? Let me offer some words and Scriptures for reflection, discussion and prayer.
Attitude - Philippians 2.5
Ready - Luke 12.35
Obedient - John 14.23-24
Merciful - Hebrews 2:17
Amazing - Matthew 8:27
The perceptive among us will notice that the first letters spell ‘AROMA’. Will meditating on the Scriptures above help you be the aroma of resurrection life to the world? Let’s pray to grow into the likeness of Jesus so that the world can smell him through us and find new life.
Your brother, Malcolm
Thursday Mar 14, 2024
A New Creation | Class 1 | Malcolm Cox
Thursday Mar 14, 2024
Thursday Mar 14, 2024
In this first class of a new series, we explore the example of Jesus in Matthew 20 as an inspiration to our lives in the new creation.
You've found an upload from the Thames Valley churches of Christ. Thank you for watching this video. If you'd like to know more go to www.thamesvalley.church where you'll find news, information, resources and much more.
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
SPIRITUAL LIFE – AIM UK & IRELAND, 23RD MARCH 2024
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
AIM UK & Ireland Spiritual Life Module
“The spiritual life is not a life of laws and precepts but a life of participation, affection and love, a life mingled and mixing with God.” William Law
Description
The Bible places far more emphasis on who we are inside than how we behave or appear to others. We have all seen too many people we know fall, not rebounding but remaining fallen, due to a weak walk with the Lord–while others continue to go forward to do great things despite formidable obstacles.
Are you looking to strengthen your relationship with God and deepen your understanding of Christian spirituality? Look no further than the AIM Spiritual Life Course, an in-person and online course designed to enhance and guide your spiritual journey. The course covers character, sexual issues, financial responsibility, spiritual disciplines such as fasting, prayer, meditation, scripture, devotional reading, and so much more—the secret of mirroring Christ’s character: the inner spiritual life.
Teachers include Douglas Jacoby, Andy Boakye and Malcolm Cox. At the live session on 23 March we will cover the crucial topics of growing through suffering (Andy Boakye), discipleship as the door to life to the full (Malcolm Cox) and the joys of personal spiritual growth (Douglas Jacoby). Additionally, you will have access to specialised teaching from many others on-line after the event.
Join our worldwide community of learners and experience the transformative power of Christian spirituality.
More Information
AIM UK & Ireland site: https://aimukandireland.com/
Spiritual Life Module description: https://aimukandireland.com/enrol/index.php?id=13
Details
Location: West Watford Free church, Tolpits Lane, Watford WD18 6NU
Date & Time: Saturday 23rd March 2024, 9:30AM – 2.45PM
Registration & Payment: https://tvcoc.churchsuite.com/donate/fund/usz20xvr
Cost: £20 for the day; £75 for the entire module
Refreshments: Light lunch, hot and cold drinks
Transport: Nearest stations — Watford Junction (35 mins walk), Watford High Street (30 mins walk), Watford Metropolitan Line (20 mins walk).
Parking: Free parking onsite and adjoining roads
If you have any questions please drop me a line.
God bless, Malcolm
Sunday Mar 03, 2024
Sunday Mar 03, 2024
Quiet Time Coaching Episode 508 | New Thing Series — Part 63 | “A New Creation” | Malcolm Cox
Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'
Today we wrap up this series by reviewing the topic of a new thing and looking forward.
In this series we have explored God doing a new thing in the lives of Abraham, Esther, Daniel, Elijah & Elisha, Nehemiah, Peter and the Samaritan woman. We could have picked scores of other men and women in both testaments. Despite all the problems, sins and failings, God always has something new in store for us.
"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
The story of God with his people is the story of new beginnings, new life, and new creation.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5:17
As a result, we live in a new way.
Ephesians 4:22-24: "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
For Reflection
How lucky we are to have a new life. This life comes to us through our experience of renewal in baptism. As somebody said, “Baptism is a new creation bath with old creation water.”* as we wrap up the series may I ask you what God revealed regarding any new thing he has in mind for you? And, let us set our sights forward to further discover what it means to live a new life as a new creation.
Why not take some time today to ask God to solidify any new convictions about him doing a new thing in your life? And, ask him to help you grow into all that it means to be a new creation?
Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
- John Mark Hicks, Bobby Valentine, and Mark Wilson: Embracing Creation
Saturday Mar 02, 2024
Saturday Mar 02, 2024
Quiet Time Coaching Episode 507 | New Thing Series — Part 62 | “The Samaritan Woman’s Impact” | Malcolm Cox
Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'
We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of the Samaritan woman. Today we explore her impact.
“Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” They left the city and were on their way to him.” (John 4:28-30 NRSV)
“Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Saviour of the world.”” (John 4:39-42 NRSV)
The Samaritan Woman’s Impact
- Her priorities are completely reversed
- She does not care what people think of her any longer
- She wants as many people as possible to meet Jesus
- She inspires people to encounter Jesus
For Reflection
She goes back to the city where people know her, and know her past. These are the people who might well be those who shame her. She references the fact that Jesus knows what she has done and has talked to her about it. These are the very events which must have caused her embarrassment, and probably are the reason she is at the well alone. She has lost all her inhibitions — preferring her sin to be public so that other people would be motivated to meet Jesus. Her testimony takes her to the crowds. The crowds take her at her word and make their way to Jesus. After spending time with Jesus, they develop their own convictions.
Why not take some time today to pray through your testimony, and ask God to show you someone you can share it with?
Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Friday Mar 01, 2024
Friday Mar 01, 2024
Quiet Time Coaching Episode 506 | New Thing Series — Part 61 | “The Samaritan Woman’s Past” | Malcolm Cox
Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'
We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of the Samaritan woman. Today we explore her past.
“Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.” The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!” The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet.” (John 4:16-20 NRSV)
The Samaritan Woman’s Past
- Jesus digs into her past by starting with her present situation
- She does not bring up her past, Jesus does
- Even when he references her current situation she does not want to engage with it
- She does not argue with the fact that Jesus presents
- The Samaritan woman correctly identifies Jesus as someone with prophetic ability
For Reflection
Jesus goes from spiritual to confrontational. He is not afraid of things getting uncomfortable as he moves the conversation to the personal arena. We do not know the circumstances behind her marital mess. How much of it is to do with her, and how much is of it is to do with the men is unknown. What is clear is that there must be a great deal of pain in her life. And, we notice that Jesus is not condemning. She is talking to Jesus, and moving in the direction of having a new start in life. But, Jesus knows that for the new to renew her, the past must be surfaced. Do you have any sin, regrets, pain or trauma that you've kept hidden away in the dark? Could it be that which is preventing God doing a new thing?
Why not take some time today to ask God to help you surface anything that needs bringing into the light so that it can be transformed and you can enjoy a new thing?
Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Thursday Feb 29, 2024
Thursday Feb 29, 2024
Quiet Time Coaching Episode 505 | New Thing Series — Part 60 | “The Samaritan Woman’s Demand” | Malcolm Cox
Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'
We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of the Samaritan woman. Today we explore her demand.
“Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying 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 no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”” (John 4:10-15 NRSV)
The Samaritan Woman’s Demand
- She finds the conversation with Jesus confusing
- But she also finds it mesmerising
- She discovers something she needs
- She takes Jesus at his word
- She demands what she needs
For Reflection
The Samaritan woman could be forgiven for being somewhat confused by this conversation with Jesus. It ranges over a number of deep concepts using metaphors, involving ancient history and present day needs. Jesus knows that she is thirsty for something more than physical water. She grasps something of his offer. Yet it cannot be a complete understanding at this point. Nonetheless, she asks — perhaps even demands — that he fulfil his promise. Much like many of the disciples of Jesus, her grasp Jesus’ nature and what he is on Earth to do develops bit by bit. What is especially inspiring about her is that she is willing to state what she needs and ask for it even though not everything is clear. Our lives as disciples are like this. It's often the case that we cannot see how God will work through the things going on in our lives and around us. Yet we can ask for what we currently see and currently understand and currently sense that we need. And in doing so, we can be confident that God hears us.
Why not take some time today to ask God for the things that you know you need, even if you are aware that you don't have the full picture of what he is doing?
Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Wednesday Feb 28, 2024
Wednesday Feb 28, 2024
Quiet Time Coaching Episode 504 | New Thing Series — Part 59 | “The Samaritan Woman’s Response” | Malcolm Cox
Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'
We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of the Samaritan woman. Today we explore her response.
“A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.)” (John 4:7-9 NRSV)
The Samaritan Woman’s Response
- She finds it surprising that Jesus wants to talk to her
- She is aware of the cultural, religious and historical barrier
- She is aware of the gender barrier
- She makes a choice to respond to Jesus
- She responds in a way that demonstrates curiosity
For Reflection
It seems likely that the woman has come to the well at this time specifically to avoid other people. If she was expecting to be left alone she was mistaken. Jesus deliberately engages her in conversation. She could choose to brush him off with a few words, or ignore him, say nothing, go about her business and return to the village. Yet, she not only responds but does so with curiosity. It appears there is something already stirring in her. Perhaps she senses that God is doing something new. The first step to God doing something new in our lives is to notice what is going on and become curious. Moses approached the burning bush, the official in Acts 8 admitted his ignorance and asked for help, the Bereans discover God’s new message because they are eager to learn.
Why not take some time today to ask God to make you aware of anything he is doing that is new, and to give you the curiosity to investigate?
Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/