“Jesus, tired as He was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water” (John 4:6-7).
Day 11 of Write31Days and yesterday, we zoomed in on Jesus’ birth. Now here’s something He exemplified for us throughout His earthly ministry:
Finding refreshing in helping others.
Just for a minute, think of that well in the verses above as a Christian conference centre. There’s someone leading the worship, a speaker who’s helped and counselled for a while … Jesus comes in, worn-out after some time in ministry and in need of refreshment, but He plonks Himself down next to the most needy person in the room. They talk and as they do, the colour returns to His cheeks. He ends up revitalised, ready to go out again into the world He’s just drawn aside from.
As His followers, it’s the same for us. When we go somewhere to be ministered to, we may find we’re also ministering to others.
“Meanwhile His disciples urged Him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’
“But He said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you know nothing about’” (John 4:31-32).
So true. And the other way around … We go to encourage someone and come away encouraged!
Yeah, it is amazing that even when they’re suffering, people choose to reach out and encourage the one who wants to help them.
Very nice analogy Sarah and so true!
Thank you. I hope what I write points people to Jesus.
I would love to be the woman at the well in a way. I would love to offer Jesus refreshing water, but He would not be there for what I can give Him. He would come just to bless me just as He did this woman. Thanks for the picture of refreshment.
Well, I suppose you and I can offer something more than fresh water to Jesus. We can lavish on Him everything we’ve got, like Mary when she poured out the expensive perfume – our lives given freely back to Him.
I had never thought of helping others as being refreshing! I guess it’s kind of like how they say if you’re feeling sad or blue you should go help someone else. Thanks for giving me a new way to look at something!
Oh, I’m glad you liked it.
Sometimes when I’m feeling down, I find writing a letter to one of my sponsored kids helps because it’s focusing on them instead of me.