Til the Day I Die: A 6-Day Devotional With Fellowship CreativeSample

WHO MY GOD IS

Jaden Moody

Ten years ago, if you would have told me all the ways that God would use my life and all the ways He was working behind the scenes to make me who I am today, I would have never believed you. I would have said you were crazy! Or that God forgot about me! Maybe you feel that way right now.

I love the story of the woman at the well. Jesus is traveling and visits a town called Sychar. Tired from His journey, He sits down by a well. While Jesus sits at the well, the scriptures tell us a Samaritan woman comes to draw water.

John 4:7-10 (NIV) says,

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to Him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.”

Looking at this passage, one important thing to be aware of is that Jews and Samaritans did not associate with each other. In the eyes of the Samaritan woman, Jesus had no business talking with her because of His religious background. Already, the woman is caught off guard by Jesus’ refusal to follow social norms. As the story continues, Jesus acknowledges the woman’s messy past and addresses a sinful relationship she’s currently pursuing. Despite the woman’s brokenness, Jesus explains to her there is a love that cares not about religion, where you come from, or the mistakes you’ve made but a love that simply requires a true and honest worshiper who is willing to accept it.

The story concludes,

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to Him, they urged Him to stay with them, and He stayed two days. And because of His words many more became believers. They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:39-42, NIV)

We see in this story, and in many other stories throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently surrounds Himself with people whom many would say were too sinful and broken to be in the presence of a perfect savior. Jesus surrounds Himself with the kind of people whom most would reject. Through His acceptance of all, Jesus makes it clear that no matter each person's brokenness, past, or current situation, His love and grace are available for everyone.

The story of the Samaritan woman shows a person who lived their whole life isolated and rejected. A woman who is unable to believe that there is a future for her and that she is worthy. I love this story because Jesus immediately breaks that narrative for the Samaritan woman. One conversation, and her life is forever changed. She can’t wait to tell her good news to everyone she knows—the very same people who judged her for so long.

My prayer for you today is that you would be reminded there is nothing that could ever keep the love of Jesus from chasing after you. We worship a God who will meet you at the well with open arms, ready to take you as you are—the good and the bad. A God full of grace and love simply wants His children to be with Him. God is waiting for you, and He can’t wait to show you all the ways He’s been with you since the very beginning.