ESOCS Devotional 9 January 2022
TEXT: JOHN 4:1-26
MEMORY VERSE:
“Jesus answered and said unto her: If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee ‘Give me to drink’, thou wouldest have asked of him, and he world have given thee living water” (John 4:10).
In Jesus earthly days, the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans, as that would constitute defilement; neither could a Jewish man be seen discussing in public with a woman who was not his wife; worst still, with a Samaritan woman whose credential could be summed up as immoral. Jesus was out to save her and for that purpose he set aside race and gender superiority. Evangelism demands His action; otherwise how else could He have engaged her and lead her to God.
Evangelism has been defined as the process of convincing another person to believe the gospel. Going by this definition, it is clear that the evangelist must be the one to initiate a contact and a discourse. So first strategy was that Jesus spoke first to her and thereby established the contact. Next thing to note is the common ground that the Lord used to create this animated discussion. She was coming to draw water and He asked her to fetch for him to drink. This was a common ground and a fertile one for discussion. Evangelical discuss should as much as possible be started on a common or natural ground.
The request was simple but it got her talking, gave her opportunity to reprimand Him for the attitude of the Jews, even though she could see that Jesus was not like other Jews in gender and racial issues. His next strategy was to listen to her; and having done so, He took her at her level. His focus was to lead her to God and her expressed bias against the Jews must not deter Him. The good Evangelist must create room for his target to talk in response but should still provide the lead. Still talking about water, Jesus arouses her interest to a better water than Jacob’s well. He offered her the eternal water, an exhaustible water and a living water. By now she was quite at home with this evangelist, but all of a sudden He moves the scene to her personal life, her past, and present marital status. “Go, call thy husband.” Her answer was met by a revelation from this total stranger, which astonished her; and she exclaimed, “Sir, I perceive that thou art a Prophet” or as NIV put it, “Sir, I can see that you are Prophet.” The stage was set, she was ready to believe this uncommon Prophet. Revelations are very important in evangelism and their management is no less important. The rest of the discourse was now between the new convert and her Prophet/teacher, and she was truly thirsty for more of spiritual things for it had been successfully planted in mind.
- Carefully study the aforesaid Jesus’ evangelical model and apply it.
- Pray God to guide you to your next target (person/sinner) to win over to Christ. Also pray for revelation concerning the person and ability to initiate the meeting.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 42:1-12; 43:1-13; John 12:20-36
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ESOCS Devotional 9 January 2022
