News

In my home it is not rare that there are a few voices trying to be the louder voice! We have four boys and each one of them think they have the floor whenever they want it. Maybe they get it from their preaching dad? But the other day there was one situation that my ears tuned into. My two youngest boys both thought they could talk to me and they were competing. I kept saying, “I can’t hear you?” Then simultaneously they would both speak louder and more aggressively. This went on for several rounds until I finally called each boy by name and said, “Ok, only you talk. What is it?”

I think our Christian walk with the Lord is often like this. We think we hear something from the Lord, so we ask for it to be repeated. We hear it again and again and again. But each time we may hear something different or not quite the same as the last time. We doubt the voice being spoken. We then begin to hear the voices that seem to be the clearest even though there not always the right voices. I refer to these voices as competing voices. As Christ followers we all have them. We hear what needs to be spoken but at the same time we hear other voices. It could be friends, a job, Satan, or even a loved one. And all of them can at times be competing voices with what the Holy Spirit is saying to us.

The same thing happened with Jesus. We know that when Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days Satan came and tempted Him there. He gave the option of bread. He gave Him the option of calling Heavens Angels down. Satan gave Him the option of ruling over all the kingdoms of the world. Scripture does not give us any indication that Satan tempted Him again. But we do know that Pharisees, citizens, and even close friends all at times had competing voices. Consider the disciples who suggested to Jesus that they send people home hungry?

As Jesus approached the crucifixion something fascinating happens. The night before His crucifixion and just before His arrest He retreats to the Mountain of Gethsemane. He tells His disciples to wait while He prays. We know that this was a very difficult time for Jesus as He prays in Matthew 26:39 (NLT), “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” He also mentioned to His disciples that His ‘soul was crushed.’ In this section of Scripture, it doesn’t tell us that there were competing voices. But it does tell us He went straight to the most important voice. His Father in Heaven.

We all have competing voices. You can’t escape it. You can’t outrun it. You can’t avoid it. But how you choose to respond is entirely up to you. You are in full power of what you do with competing voices in your life. You can listen to them and do exactly as they say. You can consider them and even entertain them. The choice is entirely up to you. Or, you can do as Jesus did and go straight to the one true voice. Your heart may be troubled as Jesus’ was. You may be tempted. You may need healing. Go straight to the source. God is listening. But God is also speaking! And He wants to speak to you today. Are you struggling with competing voices right now? Do you know the direction to turn with life decisions or frustrations? Reach out to a dedicated Christ follower or pastor and allow them to help you. Hear the Word of God to you today. He is speaking!

There are sections of scripture that when I read them, I cannot seem to shake them from my mind. I cannot remember why but recently I came across John 4:1-42. I had read this section of scripture numerous times before. Probably too many to count. I have even preached from it. When I was in Israel a few years I was able to visit this very site. I even drew water from Jacob’s Well! What a time it was. But something struck me differently this time when I read the story. I don’t know if it was because of circumstances in my life where I needed to extend grace to someone else or perhaps someone was extending grace to me. But I read this scripture, and something jumped off the pages at me and I cannot seem to shake it. Most of us know the story. Jesus is traveling. He stops at a well to get a drink. He asks a woman there to draw him a drink. She seems confused as Jesus is a Jewish man and she is Samaritan. He has no cup. He has nothing. So, she says, well how can you draw water with no rope, no bucket, no cup!

Now the rest of the story is really a story about grace. I will not summarize here but you should read it if you are not familiar with it. But really, what I want to touch on is how we extend and show grace to others. I have been placed in a unique situation for the past several months to interact with people that typically I do not get to. As a pastor my world seems to be surrounded by faith-based organizations and individuals. On all the Boards I serve on and the opportunities to volunteer most of them have some aspect of a faith foundation. While people there need grace shown as well, they sort of expect it from a pastor. But when I leave this community that I am so often surrounded by, I find that people expect condemnation and separation from the pastor. And to see this has hurt terribly. It has made me stop and ask, ‘Why aren’t we (the church) extending grace here as well?’

When I read the story about Jesus and the Samaritan women at the well, this is a story of grace. She was much different than Jesus. If he had not stopped for a drink that day, there worlds would have never collided. This interaction was not in a church or the temple. Jesus was by himself, as the other disciples had gone off to get food from the town ahead. This wasn’t a teaching moment for Jesus (at least to those around him). This was a grace moment for Jesus. The good Jewish Man (Jesus) and the Samaritan Woman should have never been interacting with each other. They were from two different communities. She had been married numerous times. This broke Old Testament law. I think our culture and understanding today would be disappointed with this interaction. People would say, “You weren’t harsh enough Jesus.” Or, “You weren’t direct enough Jesus.” Or, even still, “How could this woman do any good Jesus?”

This lady went on to bring many Samaritans to know the Lord. By the end of this encounter the Samaritans were referring to Jesus as ‘The Savior of the World.’ I know for myself, I want the people around me, after our interactions, whether they think like me or not, whether they believe like me or not, I want them to say of Jesus, ‘He is the Savior of the World.’ And you know how I think that starts? I think it starts with grace, being extended not with our identity intact, but extended from us with the fingerprints and the breath of God all over it. The Spirit is in us and alive and well. We can breathe the grace of God to those we encounter. We can speak it. We can touch others with the grace of God. It is time we start! The people are waiting. Are you ready to ask those different than you for a drink? Are you ready to meet them outside of the church?

The location of Jacob’s well is known. It is deep. It is covered by a church now to preserve it and to care for it. You can still draw water from it. It is cool and refreshing just as the Grace of God is.

As Jesus is walking with His disciples a question gets asked. Maybe one of the most important questions asked by Jesus in the Scriptures. In the 8th Chapter of Mark Jesus asks “But what about you? Who do you say I am?” The full transcript says this, “Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.”

Someone once told me most people see Jesus as one of three people. Some see Him as a liar. That everything He has said is completely false and simply a part of His image that He was attempting to spread to other people hoping they would believe. Some see Him as a lunatic. He was so crazy, messed up, that He thought He could save the entire world and in His mid-30’s was willing to allow Himself to be put to death so that He could ‘attempt’ this world-saving act. Yet, others, see Jesus as Lord. The Savior of the world. The one who spoke only truth. The one who knew that His mission was that of the Father in Heaven and His life was a ransom, a sacrifice for everyone else in the world.

I pose the question to you, “Who do you say He is?” For each of us, at different times of our lives, we may see Jesus in a different role. For the Samaritan Women at the well, He was a counselor and encourager. In Capernaum, He was a healer for the paralytic man lowered through the roof. He was a teacher to those who gathered for the Sermon on the Mount. And even for some, He was a provider as the hundreds gathered with no food to eat.

Who do you say Jesus is? For me, He is a healer. Not only for physical needs but emotional and mental needs as well. He has been a provider. He has been a counselor. He has been comforter. But, He has always been my Savior. For you, Jesus could be any of those listed above or several others. If Jesus is for you who He said He was than celebrate that!

Everyone must wrestle with the question, who is Jesus? It is a personal question that must be answered. It is a challenging question for some. Jesus helped us in answering this question. In John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus is the way. He is the road to salvation. Through Him, we find eternal life. But we also find all those things listed above. Jesus is still today, who He was in the Scriptures. He has never changed. He will still counsel. He will still heal. He will still comfort. Jesus is still all He ever was. Today, who do you say He is? Answer that question and see if you can find a relationship with Him. If you are unsure how to answer that, find a local church in your neighborhood. Visit with the Pastor. They will be glad you did!