“From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.’” John 4:39
The Samaritan woman is confronted by Jesus. But the beauty of this story is that the woman (having been married five times & living with someone she is not married to) is not defensive of her transgressions. Rather, she finds hope & freedom from her sins in the Savior.
I don’t know about you, but my nature is non-confrontational. As a pastor, I have grown to address sin issues in the lives of the people I minister. But, it’s not easy. I have had too many talks when people are defensive and defend their “freedom” to rationalize in their sins. I am still growing to know how to counsel like Christ.
When I read the story of Jesus at the well with the Samaritan women, I was truly awed by how Jesus spoke & counseled the woman. Instead of running away in anger, the woman draws nearer to the Savior. She finds hope in her troubles. She finds grace in the Messiah.
In any of our confrontations and rebuke, the person has to find grace, hope, and Christ. That is the message of the gospel isn’t it?!
