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.