Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I did.  Could this be the Messiah?”  They came out and made their way toward him. … Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” – John 4:28-30, 39

For years, when our children were small, my family traveled from Waco to Dallas to attend church.  That may sound a little nutty to most of you since there is a church on every corner here in Waco, but it was (and sometimes still is) very difficult to find a Baptist Church here in Waco that is as concerned about Jesus in the community as it is in Baylor in the community…But that’s a different story for a different day.

Almost every Sunday at our church in Dallas, after the service was over, I felt like the preacher had been following me around all week and prepared his sermons based what he saw during the week while tailing me.  I still feel that way when we go back and visit.  In all reality, Bro. Glenn didn’t have time to be following me around.  He had much better things to do with his time.  But the Holy Spirit was with me and also with him and although I am sure Bro Glenn was not picking on me in particular, God used his sermons to convict me of my sin and to work change in my life.

Conviction of our sin is one of the Holy Spirit’s jobs.  Not condemnation – but conviction.  He wants to bring us to agreement with Him about our sin and He will use many different avenues to bring us to the reality that there is something in our lives that needs confession and correction.

It has been a while since I have felt that level of conviction from a sermon but recently God has used several pastors to speak to me about my life and the sin I am so easily entangled in.  I recently heard a sermon from Luke 6 about Jesus healing the man with the shriveled hand on the Sabbath.  The preacher pointed out that present for that event were three groups of people – Jesus, who came to the synagogue that day to heal; the man with the shriveled hand who likely came to be healed; and the Pharisees who came to accuse, criticize and trap Jesus.  Most Sundays we all fall into one of those three categories.  We are there to help heal someone one by our words, encouragement, teaching and support; we are there to be healed – maybe not physically but spiritually or emotionally; or we are there to criticize, judge and accuse.  I have been all three at one time or another.  While listening to this sermon, I was greatly convicted about that last one.  I don’t want to be that Christian – not ever again.  I want to heal and be healed – I don’t want to contribute to anyone’s pain and I certainly don’t want to plot against Jesus like the Pharisees did that day.

Forgive me Lord for disappointing you, complaining about your messengers, and stirring up any form of dissension.  Thank you for continuing to use many to refine me and make me more like your Son.  Open my eyes to see my shortcomings – open the eyes of anyone reading this to show them where they fall short.  May we come together in your House to heal and to be healed.  Amen.

SATURDAY - THE DAY BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH - a few thoughts from Carla Thomas

Saturday.  The day between Friday and Sunday.  The day we most look forward to each week of our lives. We all have grand plans for Saturday – to get out and do things we can’t do during the week – to enjoy life without the cares of work. 

But it is also the day between death and life.  The One they had put all their hopes and dreams in was buried in a tomb.  A giant boulder was blocking the entrance – it was sealed with the mark of the Romans.  No one was going in – No one was coming out.  Dreams and plans shattered and dead in a tomb.

Imagine the disappointment.  Imagine the loss.  The eleven and more had spent the last three years dreaming of the day when His kingdom would come.  They had been taught for centuries that when the promised one came, that he would come and bring them back to greatness and save them from their captives like Moses.  That he would be a great warrior like David.  That his very presence would bring them peace and that his reign would be final.  They were banking on being a part of the grand victory and ruling for what they could see as forever.

They had dreamed of that day.  When the Romans would be cast out and they would be in charge and have the power.  But as it turned out, their leader was now in a tomb and they were in fear for their lives.  The dreams they had were shattered.  What they could perceive and see with their human minds and human eyes had come to a screeching halt and their hearts were broken.  Their spirits were broken.  All was lost on that Saturday and they hid in a secret room behind locked doors.  Afraid to move forward.

Isn’t that so much like us.  When what we perceive as humans – when what we see as humans – is broken and shattered by an evil, broken world our hearts and spirits are shattered and we hide in a locked room.  We retreat.  We cut ourselves off from the rest of the world and fear.

We have a great advantage over the eleven.  We know what happens next in the story.  We know that three days after His death, He walked out of that most securely sealed tomb – ALIVE – way more alive that you and I – ALIVE FOREVER.  He conquered DEATH.  FOREVER.

If He can do that, He can absolutely conquer our broken pieces.  All we have to do is take our eyes and hearts off what we can perceive and see and put them on Him and what He can see.  For He can see everything – He can see eternity.

Let’s quit locking ourselves in upper rooms when all goes wrong.  He knows the grand ending to the story and has promised that He has great plans for our future.  He is putting everything together for His glory and purposes for those who love Him and call Him LORD.  Trust Him – come out of your upper room and live again.  It’s Saturday – the day between death and life.  Prepare your heart for the grand celebration.  Life is here – Life in available NOW. 

Supporting Scripture:

John 19: 41-42 -- At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Matthew 27:62-66 -- The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.  “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’  So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”  “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Daniel 7:27 -- Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.

John 20:19-20 -- On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Ephesians 3:20-21 -- Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Philippians 2:12-13 -- Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11-12 -- For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

Roman 8:28 -- And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.