John 4:1-41
Many people say, “I can live my life anyway I want”. Some live for pleasures, some for wealth and status, while some they gave their life to social justice. Some live for sports and body building, while others live for work and work to live. People indeed shape the life they live. But for believers, the Bible prescribes a life to live. In John 2:5-6, the Bible teaches, “This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:5b-6. Three things I want to share with you today. All of them intersects and builds on the idea of how to live the way Jesus did.
1. Live passionately for God.
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:34.
Jesus’ passion and desire was to accomplish the will of His Father.
Jesus’ passion demonstrates to us His obedient character.
The Bible teaches and commands all believers to be obedient to God.
Why is obedience so important to God?
Obedience demonstrates our love for God. See In 1 John 5:3.
It demonstrates and shapes our character. See 1 John 2:4-5.
It earns us rewards. See Matt. 6:19-21.
Eternal life is not a reward but a gift that has been given to us, right at the moment of placing one’s faith in the Lord. It is already in our present possession.
How to live passionately for God?
We commit our time in getting to know God through the Bible.
We imitate Jesus’ prayer life.
We refuse anything that opposes the will of God.
2. Live missionally like Jesus.
“35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together” John 4:36.
Jesus came to redeem those whom God has prepared in advance. See John 3:16-17; cf. Eph. 1:4-14.
Jesus illustrates the missional life through agricultural practices.
The reapers refer to His disciples who lead others to faith in Him.
The crop are the souls to be harvested through evangelism.
The Bible continues to encourage us, to follow the footsteps of Jesus and embrace the missional life. See 1 Cor. 4:15-17
How to be missional?
Start praying for the salvation of people.
Look for people’s need where you can help with.
Pray for opportunities to share the Word of God in a meaningful way.
Be sensitive with the Holy Spirit’s timing as to when to share an encouraging word from the Bible.
Invite people to our worship services and Bible studies.
3. Live spiritually every moment.
“39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.” John 4:39-41.
Jesus dealt with the most basic problems of the Samaritan – sin and salvation.
Our physical bodies could not be separated from our spiritual aspect.
The human soul, as much as the body (for resurrection), needs saving from the One who created us.
Thus, from the above passage, to live spiritually means to be constantly aware of the sins we make, and our need to come to the Lord for forgiveness.
If you are already a believer and a follower of Jesus, to live spiritually means to live out your new identity in Christ.
“9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10.