Seeds of Hope, Love, and Faith- The Woman at the Well.

Click here to read John 4:5-42.

Having moved into my own home, I used my holidays to decorate and sort the small courtyard behind my house. I love trees. In the suburb where I grew up in Australia, the streets were utterly tree-less; however, many were planted in people’s back gardens. I think there are not many trees because of the scarcity of water, and trees need lots of water. Local councils didn’t want the residents to waste their water, particularly during times of drought, for those who did, were issued heavy fines. So, when I came to Wales Uk to live, I was so pleased to see the trees everywhere!

I bought a house in Wales, where I am surrounded by beautiful Parks and mountains lined with trees.

I love trees and enjoy looking at them, so I bought 2 big pots and a lot of potting soil, bought a cherry tree and an apple tree, and planted them. New buds form within a few days, and I am looking forward to them producing some fruit for me in years to come. I chose cherry because cherries are expensive to buy in the shops, and I really enjoy cherries, and they’ve got very high antioxidant properties being a dark fruit. Usually, apples are easy to grow, and I can do all sorts of things with apples like apple pie, sauce, and much more and an added bonus, apples are very high in vitamin C. Then I got thinking about apples and cherries because they have seeds.

SEEDS AND NEW LIFE

A traditional gift for a teacher from the student is an apple. Think about a good teacher that you may have had. A good teacher plant seeds of ideas in our thinking and helps us explore those ideas, and they explain things to us in an exciting way. A good teacher is a teacher because they love to teach and want to help the student be all they can be.

Most teachers never know what the results of their teaching will be. It takes many years for the student to mature and become an adult. During that time, they will discover their interests and talents and decide how to use them. A good teacher plants a seed, and years later, others will see the results of that teacher’s work, and the teacher may never know about it.

WE ALL HAVE A PURPOSE IN THIS LIFE

Jesus talks about this idea in (4:37)- He says, “One sow and another reaps” – one person plants the seed, and another person may harvest the fruit. So when we say something helpful to another person or do something kind, it is planting a seed of God’s love.

We may never know the result, but we can be sure that there will be a good result when we work with God’s love. This is what we are focusing on in this text today: Sowing Seeds of hope, love, and faith.

Briefly looking at the context, we find that Jews had little to do with Samaritans. Jews tended to avoid even traveling through Samaria. But Jesus didn’t share this hatred towards Samaritans. He traveled from Judea to Galilee to go through Samaria rather than by-passing it. He was not trying to save time, but Jesus continually sought out the outcasts of society––the tax collectors, the prostitutes, the lepers––and his travels through Samaria carried him through a nation of what the Jews regarded as outcasts.

THE WOMAN AT THE WELL

Jesus came to the little town in Samaria and stopped at the well for a drink. A woman was there, drawing water. Usually, women came to the well in the mornings and evenings, but this woman came at noon. It was hot at noon, but she was alone at the well. But today, a strange man approached. It was not suitable for men to converse with women in this culture. The rule was,

“Let no one talk with a woman in the street, no, not even with his wife.”

The idea of what Jesus told the woman is that he is getting rid of old prejudices and rivalries and because God is spirit, worship cannot be confined to a particular place or a particular people. God is everywhere, so He can be worshipped everywhere by all people. True worship is an affair of the heart.

ALL PEOPLE MATTER

After the conversation, the woman left her water jar and ran into the city. “Come, see a man who told me everything I did. Can this be the Christ?” (v. 29). So they came, and many of them “believed in Jesus BECAUSE OF THE WORD OF THE WOMAN” (v. 39). How amazing! In that time and place, people didn’t take a woman’s word very seriously.

Until Jesus came along, this woman was practically invisible; no one would have sent her into town as their spokeswoman. But her contact with Jesus transformed her life and status in the community. The people heard her and said, “You are right. This is the savior of the world” (the meaning of v. 42).

SOULS MATTER

William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, said: ‘Go for souls and go for the worst’.

That’s what Jesus did when he turned this so-called outcast into a well-received evangelist.

Jesus planted seeds of hope, love, and faith in her heart, and she received them, and she let those seeds grow to where she acted and shared her story.

Jesus does that. He changes people’s lives, and we do that too, we are seed planters, and if God wishes, we help to grow those seeds by protecting and nurturing them – and we may or may not see the final result.

Jesus especially loves to help outcasts because they most need help, and so should we.

The late Billy Graham said:

“Jesus stopped dying on the cross long enough to answer the prayer of a THIEF.

He stopped in a big crowd one day because a WOMAN touched the hem of His garment,

and He’ll stop to touch your life, change you, and forgive you – that’s Good News”!

CHURCH MATTERS

As the church, we are Christ’s hands for service in this world, and he uses you and me to do his work, to change people’s lives: How?

• We plant the seeds of Christ each time we CARE;

• We plant the seeds of Christ each time we LISTEN;

• We plant the seeds of Christ each time we REACH OUT;

• We plant the seeds of Christ each time we TOUCH EACH OTHER IN LOVE.

A quote from John Wesley “The Church has nothing else to do but to save souls; therefore, be devoted to this work. It is your business to bring as many sinners as possible to repentance”.

And another preacher put it this way: “go to the outcasts; it is the church’s business to kiss frogs.” So, let us rejoice that Christ has transforming power in changing lives!

This week, let us resolve to allow God to plant seeds of hope, faith, and love to fill us with His Spirit so we might plant the same seeds in the life of others. Let us pray that we will touch lives with seeds of hope, love, and faith this week and see the transforming love of Christ in action!

I hope reading this article has helped you in a small way. If it was, please like and feel free to comment, and please subscribe to this blog so you may receive your free freebie and regular updates.💕

Paula Rose has a Bachelor of Pastoral Counselling and Theology, Vision Christian University, USA Master of Arts In Counselling & Professional Development, specializing in Spiritual Abuse through The University of Derby, UK.

She Studies the BACP Life Coaching Course, Bristol, UK, and is a life member of (ISFP) The International Society of Female Professionals.

Paula Rose Parish is a Pastor, Author, and founder, of Hope. Faith. Love, and Your Wellness Matters. She studied at the University of Derby and received a Master of Arts in Counselling in Professional Development. Over the years, Paula Rose has served as a pastor, chaplain, counsellor, and coach and taught at a Christian university. In addition, she has led workshops and retreats and spoken worldwide on Christian spirituality.

Author of over 200 articles and two published books, Paula Rose, continues to write on the wellness of mind, body, and spirit. Paula Rose is adding a string to her bow and is presently reading Health and Wellness. She has four grown children, five grandchildren, and lives in South Wales, UK.

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Paula Rose is a Wellness Coach Ordained Minister, Speaker, Blogger, Podcaster, Course Creator, Published Author, and has a Master of Arts in Counselling. And many other qualifications and a lifetime, so I have heaps to share with you.

Paula is a life member of (ISFP) The International Society of Female Professionals.

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