Why is God Gracious (Part 2)?
We continue to build on part one of this series and learn more about God’s grace and what it means for our lives. Our passage this week comes from John 4:27-42. Here are three more answers to the question, “why is God gracious?”
God is gracious because He wants us to be His witnesses (v27-30)
Through these verses we continue to follow the Samaritan woman from part one of the series. We can see that the Samaritan woman did two things in response to her encounter with Jesus:
The woman left her water jar. She was excited to tell others about Jesus and felt that it was more than her immediate physical needs (i.e. water)
The woman went back to the town and talked to the Samaritans about Jesus. Despite her reputation as an unfaithful woman and a likely social outcast, she still insisted on sharing the good news.
This is important to us. If we want to be faithful witnesses, there are a number of things we need to give up in our lives such as security, stability and the comfort and not wanting to be judged by others. Regardless of who we are, God wants us to be His witnesses.
God is gracious because He wants us to work now (v31-38)
While the woman was telling the Samaritans about Jesus, the disciples were urging Jesus to eat food. But Jesus said he already has food to eat. The disciples were confused, but Jesus was not referring to physical food that would relieve hunger in the short term. Instead, his food was to do the will of God and to finish his work - an everlasting food.
Jesus was concerned about the salvation of the Samaritans while the disciples appeared to be more concerned about Jesus’ physical hunger. Jesus, therefore, urged his disciples to prioritise a different kind of food.
We too, have been given the work to proclaim the good news of Jesus to all people including our enemies and those we dislike. We must respond by preaching the gospel to these people. God is gracious because he has given us this work to do now, instead of prioritising our stability or to satisfy our immediate physical desires.
God is gracious because he wants to use us to multiply (v39-42)
After hearing about the good news of Jesus from the Samaritan woman, the Samaritans make their way towards Jesus. Jesus then stayed with them for a few days and many Samaritans became believers.
It was the Samaritan woman who directed the Samaritans to Jesus. Without the woman, they wouldn’t have ever known the Saviour.
This is important for us because it shows us that it is Jesus who saves people, not us. No matter who we are, no matter what our past is and no matter how much we have sinned; God is able to use us to proclaim the Good news of Jesus. We should be encouraged to tell and show people the Gospel. There’s no room for thoughts of not being good enough or well equipped.
We can direct people to Jesus through our faithful and obedient lifestyle. Jesus makes us good enough and is gracious because he wants to use us to multiply.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for being gracious to us by saving us and giving us eternal life. I pray that we can be faithful witnesses in light of the grace you have shown us. Teach us to prioritise eternal food over earthly food. I pray that we would continually preach the gospel to others and direct others to you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen