Live Free with Josh Howerton - Don’t Change the Subject | Ep. 409 | Thursday, August 29, 2024

Episode Date: August 29, 2024

Jesus won’t get distracted by your change of subject and shallow conversations. Jesus sees beyond the surface, embracing your past and present with compassion. He offers a safe haven for genuine conversations. Jesus is ready to understand you deeply today; spend some time with him in deep conversation. “ The woman said to Him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When He comes, He will explain everything to us.’ ‘I am He,’ Jesus told her, ‘the One speaking to you.’” (John 4:25-26) For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Thanks for tuning in to today's Daily Drive with Lake Point Church, a daily dose of God's word for your morning drive. When the word, not the world, becomes the majority of your week, your life will start to change. For that reason, our prayer is that God will speak to you through today's devotional. For more digital content to feed your faith, visit lakepoint.comit. And now let's dive in to today's devotional. Hey, welcome to the Daily Drive. My name is Bro, and we are walking through a story in John 4 involving Jesus and an outcast woman. Putting it in terms of our culture, she had been canceled. And she was living in a region of the Middle East that everyone looked at as, you know,

those people. And I'm thinking that maybe by looking at the way that Jesus moved among people, that you and I might push back on the whole canceled culture that we're currently living in, and we would value people the same way that he did. We left off yesterday with Jesus telling her that the water that she had come to draw from that well was only temporary. He said to her, but those who drink the water that I give

will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. Well, I don't know, but I think that perhaps she responds a bit sarcastically about this quote-unquote living water, and she says, well, why don't you give me some of that,

so I don't have to keep coming here at new. to draw water, and she spins on her heel to walk away. And Jesus says to her, why don't you go call your husband and come back? Stopps her in her tracks. She says, I don't have a husband. Jesus says, you're right. You've had five, and the guy you're with now is not your husband. You're telling the truth.

Well, she is taken back, to say the least, by his knowledge of her past. So you know what she does? She changes the subject. Yeah, we all do that, don't we? She says, verse 19, Oh, sir, I can see that you're a prophet. Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place we must worship is in Jerusalem. You know, I just love the raw humanity of this woman.

Jesus goes right to the deep places of her soul, and she wants to keep it back on surface level. It's like she said, okay, but enough about me. Let's talk about you. I can see that you're a religious man. What do you say we talk about religion? One of the hot topics between Jews and Samaritans is where we're supposed to worship. So I'm just wondering, what's your take on all that? again, I think Jesus smiles

as he pretty much sweeps that intended distraction away by saying, well, actually neither. It's never been about the mountain. It's never been about Jerusalem. God wants worshippers who worship in spirit and truth. It's an inside out kind of thing. Speaking of which, let's get back to you. And I believe he looks deep into her eyes

and says, I have a feeling that you could use some spirit and truth. Here's what I think. I think you'd like to know real love. You'd like to connect with God on that kind of level, wouldn't you? But you can't move past? your past. Listen to me, you dear, precious, priceless woman. God, the lover of your soul, wants to connect with you too. I believe at this moment she's fighting back tears, got a lump in her

throat, and even says this next thing with an expected sense of, could it be? She says, I know that Messiah, called Christ, is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us. like she sent, um, that wouldn't be you, would it? And then the only time before his trial, not before the crowds, not in front of the religious leaders, but to this broken woman alone by the well at high noon, Jesus declares, I who speak to you, am he. Okay, put yourself in her shoes for a moment. Not only had a Jew spoken to a Samaritan, not only had a rabbi spoken to a woman, but the one lovingly looking into her eyes, looking into her shame-filled soul,

was God in the flesh, the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world, the light of the world, the Lamb of God who takes away our sins, the source of living water that would wash over her soul and make her new.

Man, what a moment. You know what? Jesus wants to do the same. For you, he shows us that God won't refuse anybody, and that only he can satisfy our deepest thirst. I'm praying you would get to know him, that you would pull up close. Get one on one with him today like this woman did,

and you'll never, ever be the same. We'll wrap this up tomorrow, and I hope you have a great day. We'll see you then. Thanks for tuning in today. For more biblical teaching and worship, join us for our church online live weekend services on Saturdays and Sundays.

For more information about all the digital ministries of Lake Point, visit lakepoint.church slash daily drive. Also, if this podcast was helpful to you, would you be sure to rate, review, and share this podcast to help get the word out.