Awkward Moments
Psalm 26:2-3 (NIV) Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.
Take a moment and pray that the Lord will speak to you in this time of study.
Read: John 4:1-30
When it comes to sharing our faith with others we can all anticipate “awkward moments.” There is usually that point when the conversation turns from the day to day pleasantries to a spiritual topic or question. There is a pause or moment of silence in the conversation when the person you are talking to realizes that this conversation is going in a direction that they had not anticipated and they are wondering what to say – or how to respond.
When Jesus spoke with the Samaritan women at the well there were several awkward moments. But in each case, Jesus used those moments to redirect the conversation toward the Gospel (the Messiah has come).
When Jesus asks the women for a drink of water (John 4:7) the woman challenges Him: “men do not talk to women who are strangers and Jews do not talk to Samaritans! Why are you?” (John 4:9) …Awkward! Jesus replies, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you ‘Give Me a drink,’ (I, the Messiah), “you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” (John 4:10) Then the woman responds, “So, how are you going to do this? You are not greater than our father Jacob “(who dug the well). (John 4:11-12) …Awkward! Jesus says, “…whoever drinks of the water that I (the Messiah) will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14) Still not ‘getting’ what Jesus is saying, the woman says, “Give me the water so I don’t have to come to the well.” Jesus responds, “Go call your husband and come here.“ …Awkward! Woman… “I have no husband.” Jesus, “…you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.” …Very…Awkward! (John 4:15-18)
Acknowledging that Jesus may at least be a prophet, the woman tries to deal with her feelings of awkwardness by challenging Him with a theological question, which Jesus answers. (John 4:19-24) The woman then makes a statement that finally begs the question, “Are you the Messiah?” Jesus answers, “I who speak to you am He.” (John 4:25-26)
You and I probably will not have to engage in the kind of religious exchange that we see here. But the point is that Jesus ignored the awkward moments and focused on what was really important, the message that He, the Messiah, had come.
One of the things we have encouraged you to do this past week was to ask someone the question, “How could I pray that God would bless you today?” This past week I had the opportunity to ask this question. I was at the hospital having a minor medical procedure done and had been talking to the nurse. In our conversation I mentioned that I was a pastor and at the end of our time, I asked her, “I wonder if I might pray God’s blessing for you?” There was this moment of …awkward silence. I waited patiently and then she said “Yea, sure! Why not?” So I prayed, “Lord, I pray that you would bless _______ and provide for her and her family. I pray that you would care for her family and that they would prosper. I pray that you would keep them well and safe and may they know Your love for them.”
When I finished a big smile came over her face and she said, “That was really nice. Thank you for doing that.” She thanked me again before I left.
When we pray for people in this manner, we point them toward the Father. We point them toward the Savior. We sow a seed of awareness that the Holy Spirit begins to water. There will always be those moments of awkwardness. Learn to ignore them and go beyond them. The Messiah has come. He is here now. Take the initiative to introduce others to Him.
Pastor Neil
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Devotional studies this week are based on the sermon “Really Unlikely People” by Pastor Nate Atwood. If you would like to hear the sermon in its entirety, go to KPC.ORG/WATCH & LISTEN.
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