Incarnational
“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.””
Devotional:
Yesterday we talked about how Jesus was intentional about creating the opportunity to speak to the Samaritan woman. Today, we see how he “broke the ice” by asking her for a drink of water. Jesus was completely able to get himself water, but he asked her for water because he was starting a conversation with her. Jesus was being incarnational, or, in other words, he was meeting this woman where she was. We need to build trust with people by meeting them where they are. This can be as simple as going to eat someone’s favorite food with them or seeing a sports event together. Most people need to build trust with someone before they are ready to hear the gospel from them, this can happen very quickly or can take a very long time but either way, it is important to be incarnational like Jesus.
Prayer:
Thank God for always meeting you where you are.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you discern what someone needs or likes so you can build trust with them. Ask the Holy Spirit to help them trust you and give you the words to respond to them.
Reflection and Response:
Find ways to build trust with one non-Christian at work. Find out what they like to do/eat/watch and meet them where they are. Be intentional about praying for them and finding ways to share your faith and the love of Jesus with them.
