---Barriers and Blessings ~~
--(John 4:27-39)

--"Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony. "He told me everything I ever did."---
----[John 4:39] --
--What did Jesus see when He looked at the woman at the well in John John 4? He saw someone who wanted acceptance and desperately needed to know she was loved. Most of all, He saw someone who needed what only He could give-- a new heart..

Jesus used this encounter to bless her with the truth of "living water" (John 4:10). In just one conversation, He broke down barriers of old hostilities, of gender bias, of ethnic and racial divides. and this woman became the first of many Samaritans to confess that Jesus was Messiah. (vv. 39-42).

When she told others of her encounter with a man who knew "everything I ever did," she was already practicing the principle of "sowing and reaping" that Jesus was teaching his followers. Many believed that day, and later Philip, Peter, John, and others would preach in Samaria and lead many more to Christ (Acts. 8:5-14 15:31).

When we tell others of our own "encounter" with Jesus, we bless them with Jesus, the Living Water. " ~

---ODB/CH~

---Joint Heirs with Christ ~~

--"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
---[Romans 8:16-16]

---Modern-day humanists and unbelievers take great sport in belittling Christians, but despite their estimate, and even despite whatever view Christians may entertain of themselves, the fact remains that the Bible clearly declares believers to possess a posiition preeminent standing and blessing.

Consider the wondrous fact that we as believers are "children of God." --"As many as received him, to these gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:17). "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Galatians3:26). We are His offspring (1 Peter 1:3)
Furthermore, we are the inheritors of all good things, just as a human child can expect to inherit from his or her human father. Christ is the Son of God, but He is also "the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8:29). Our inheritance is nothing less than God Himself; all that He is and has is ours, and we will share it all with Christ, our elder brother --"The glory which those [the Father] gavest me I have given them [all believers]" --(John 17:22].

This standing and privilege is ours but we must not forget it is ours as a result of His doing not our own worth, lest we become prideful. Nevertheless, it is ours. So let us believe it, accept it, and present it in such a way that others will want to share in it.

--ICR/JDM