Weekly Devotional - "OPEN YOUR EYES" - February 21, 2011

from Lenae, GEMS Training Manager

Jesus said, “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”

John 4:35

While devout and pious Jews did everything they could to avoid traveling through Samaria, Jesus walked to it, sat, and opened up to a sinful Samaritan woman about who He was: a Jew (John 4:9), greater than Jacob (John 4:12), a prophet (John 4:19), the Messiah called Christ (John 4:25, 29). 

Jesus’ example of opening up and talking about God shatters excuses I’ve used for not being bolder in my witness for Christ.

1. I’m not sure how to start up a conversation with a stranger who is so different than me. Jesus was blameless and without sin speaking to a Samaritan whom Jews did not associate with, who had five husbands and was living with a man that was not her husband (John 4:9, 17).
2. I’m too tired. Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well and talked to her (John 4:6, 7).
3. I’m thirsty and hungry. So was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food) (John 4:7-8).

When the disciples returned with lunch they were surprised to see Jesus talking to a Samaritan woman. The woman left her water jar, went to town, shared the good news of the living water that had been given to her, and returned to the well with a number of townspeople who needed Jesus, too (John 4:27-30).

Can you picture it? Hungry and thirsty souls made their way to Jesus. People streamed out of the village to receive living water and the Bread of Life. They accepted the invitation: Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, your soul will delight in the richest of fare (Isaiah 55:1-2).

As the people came for spiritual nourishment, the disciples had their eyes fixed on physical bread. They urged him, “Rabbi, eat something” (John 4:31b). Jesus told them that He is feasting on food! “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (John 4:34). He shifted their gaze from their stomachs to the harvest, to see the people that were walking to the well, and to the people beyond them, in this generation, and the generations beyond them. “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35).

PASSION Step: Open your eyes! Open your mouth and talk about God! There are hungry and thirsty souls that need Jesus today.

Do you know how hungry people are for something bigger than them themselves? People all around you feel empty. Pay attention. Open your eyes.

Mark Buchanan