We had a wonderful weekend with children’s pastor Jodi Gramlich. I hope you are praying about our business meeting this Wednesday night as we consider calling Jodi to become our children’s pastor. WE WILL STILL HAVE OUR REGULAR BIBLE STUDIES FOLLOWING THE MEETING.
Sunday’s message focused on putting our past into the hands of God so that He can put it on display! Some highlights:
John 4 and the Woman at the Well
This is the longest recorded conversation in the Bible between Jesus and anyone, and Jesus wanted to talk about the woman’s past.
It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, where you’ve been or how long you’ve stayed, your past doesn’t scare Jesus off. Jesus doesn’t by-pass people with a past!
Her past wasn’t really even in her past because she was still doing the same thing she had been doing even though they hadn’t worked. Why do we continue to do the same things and expect different results?
Jesus wanted her to know that the reason her past was still a problem was because she hadn’t taken a drink of the Living Water which would cleanse her of her past and satisfy her so that she could choose a different future. In order for that to happen, however, she had to acknowledge the past. She had to see that which was broken.
Jesus wants your past. It is a tool for the convicting of your soul. It teaches you why there can be a better way. Looking back on our sin, acknowledging it leads us to a place where we want something different. Your past can become a tool to lead you to Christ. More than that it can become a trophy, a testimony to share for others to see what a difference Christ makes.
Jesus also wants your past so Satan can’t have it. Satan wants your past too. He wants your past to use it against you. He wants your past to disqualify you and discredit you and beat you down. He wants your past in order to shame you. Listen, you need to own your past or it will own you. It can be a tool in the hands of God or a tool in the hands of Satan. In God’s hands your past can be redeemed and can become the gift that sets you free from shame and condemnation. In Satan’s hands it can become something you loathe about yourself, about your story, and you can become defined by it and diminished and degraded because of it. In whose hands will you place your story? Who gets to control your past? Jesus or Satan?
Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him (John 4:27-30).
Do you see it? Her willingness to be open about her past and to talk it through with Jesus opened the door for other people to make their way to Jesus!
Let God redeem your past by turning your mess into His message. Your past could save someone else’s future. Tell your story this week!
God’s best to you.
Pastor Melissa
