3:75 – Right Time. Place, Person, Thing

#faithbites #faithjourney #COVID19 right

This is heavily adapted from Pastor Billy Newell’s sermon today.

We are all a bit frightened, worried, and wondering what tomorrow is going to bring. How can we stay connected but be apart? How do we make ends meet when schools and businesses are closed? What do we do if we can’t meet for fellowship and worship? So many “whats” and not enough answers.

God always makes a way. In my life, I’ve had so many lessons that I didn’t learn the first (or tenth) time. Each time God gave me that lesson, it was a bit harder. Perhaps, God is telling us that we need to connect again and get back to helping each other. That one hour on Sunday isn’t how we are supposed to live in Christian faith. Maybe, just maybe, that in this health crises, we will again learn how to help those in need, connect through different means, and live in faith.

Just like Jesus, we can be the right person, in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing. That God often finds the wrong person, in the wrong place, at the wrong time to make a point. (And no, I’m not suggesting that God gave us COVID19).

Scripture

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. – Romans 5:6

Jesus Talks to the Samaritan Women

Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” – John 4:4-26

Reflection

I know that was a lot of scripture there. It boils down to this: Jesus was in the wrong place (being a Jew in Samaria), at the wrong time (trying to get a drink from the town well at noon when no one would have been there), with the wrong person (Jews and Samarians didn’t mix and a woman with 5 husbands plus), doing the wrong thing (getting a drink without a bucket and rope). But he did what was needed. He used that moment to teach about faith, forgiveness, and birth through Christ. He also showed something we’ve forgotten. It doesn’t matter where you worship as God is everywhere. The father is everywhere we are gathered in his name (Mathew 18:20).

So, here is the take away from this. Yes, this quarantine sucks. Yes, people are hurting and looking for calm, comfort, food, protection, fellowship, and faith. As we’ve seen through Jesus, we can use his example for us. We can be that comfort, the help, that connection others need.

Are you ready for this new opportunity? I am.

Challenge

What are you willing to do to help others out during this time? Are you willing to host a virtual small group? Maybe you will text a friend and share the peace of the Lord. Find a small way to reach out to those who need you now.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for your protection and care. We know this is a challenging time. Be with us as your people find new ways to connect. This isn’t comfortable for many, but we know you will help us get there. Let us be the friends and family that you want us to be. You have put us in the right place at the right time to do the right things for your people. Amen.