Home Page of ACTS International
Home Page of ACTS InternationalHow to Find and Know God without having to be religiousLife Help Articles dealing with faith, family, and practical helps for purposeful livingDaily and Weekend Encounters with more than a third-of-a-million worldwide subscribersSupport the Work of ACTS International a not-for-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible for U.S. donorsCurrent report on the ministries and services of ACTS InternationalOnline Store of ACTS ... ACTS CommunicationsAbout ACTS International
         
     
   
 
  Site Map Email Share and/or Bookmark
   
   

Add Daily Encounter to your website without charge

Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Monday, July 26, 2021


God of the Ordinary

"Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"1

One of the wonderful things about the gospel is that God calls, saves, and uses ordinary people like you and I to help fulfill His extraordinary purpose here on earth.

The culture of Jesus's day was vastly different from ours except, perhaps, for racism. On one occasion when Jesus wanted to reach a Samaritan village with His message of salvation, He stopped by a well and made friends with a Samaritan woman. This definitely was not kosher for a Jew because the Jews looked down their noses at the Samaritans and had no dealings with them.

This was not the case with Jesus. After asking this woman for a drink of water and conversing in some seemingly small talk, He directed the conversation to spiritual matters. Not only was this woman a Samaritan but one who had led a very colorful life. Jesus knew exactly what type of person she was. She was a social outcast which was obvious by the fact that she was drawing water from the well in the middle of the day. All the other women from the village did so in the cool of the evening.

After the introductory small talk, Jesus said to the lady, "Go and get your husband and come back with him."

"I don't have a husband," she replied.

"I know," Jesus said, "you've already had five and the man you are now with is not your husband!"

That would be quite a reputation even today, let alone in that day and in that society.

And yet, this was the woman that Jesus chose to be the messenger to carry the gospel to her villageā€"which she did; and the people there came to see and hear Jesus for themselves.

Jesus, who upheld impeccable moral standards and high ideals regarding marriage, wasn't shocked by this woman's lifestyle. He saw beyond the externals and looked at her heart. Here was a woman who needed salvation and healing and was willing to admit her failures.

Neither is God shocked with you or me when we admit and confess our sins and faults, and bring them to Him for His forgiveness, and when we acknowledge our brokenness and come to Him for healing. When we do this, God won't worry about our past when it comes to using us as His witnesses.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You that You are not a 'respecter of persons' in that whoever comes to You, no matter what they have ever done or have failed to do, You will love, accept, and forgive them, and use them to be living witnesses of Your saving grace and power. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. John 4:29 (NIV).

<:))))><

 
  • Next Devotional
  • Previous Devotional

  • 2. To Know God and be sure you're a real
        Christian click on:

    3. Donate: To help send Daily Encounter
        without charge to people around the world
        click on:

    4. To send today's Daily Encounter to a friend
        click on:

    Email

    5. To share your faith in a simple, attractive
        way with a friend click on:

    6. For today's featured article click on:

    7. This week's chuckle as seen "On the Lighter
        Side"  on Weekend Encounter click on:

    8. Change Address of your subscription to
        Daily Encounter
    click on:

       
        Back to Return to previous page Previous Page    
       
    Site Map   Top
       
         
             
    Find Peace With God footer
     
      ARTICLES
    About God
    About Faith
    Relationships
    Success/Failure
    Solutions
    Recovery
    Ask the Teacher
    Better Living Tips
    Friendship
    Words of Love
    Words of Inspiration
    People Power for Jesus
    Simple and Effective Witnessing for Christ

    SITE TRANSLATIONS
    Spanish Espanol
    French Francois

      DEVOTIONS
    Devotionals
    Daily Encounter
    Weekend Encounter
    Encuentros Diarios
    Archives
    Subscribe
    When God Is Silent
    Prayer Partners
      Needed

    Special Needs

    BIBLE HELPS
    Helps and Studies
    Today's Reading
    Annual Reading

      QUOTES AND TESTS
    Today's Quotes
    Happiness Test
    Stress Test

    ACTS IN ACTION

    ACTS Websites
    ACTS in Action Report

    COMMUNICATIONS

    Syndicate ACTS Articles
    "I Hate Witnessing"
       Audio—No Charge

    Opening Closed Minds
    Effective Communications
    Jesus, the Communicator
    Punching Holes in
       the Darkness

      REPORTS
    About ACTS
    Be an ACTS Friend

    MISC.
    People Power Invite
    Links
    Weather
    Privacy Policy
    Snail-Mail List
    Contact Us/Feedback

    ACTS BOOKSTORE
    Online Bookstore


    Site Map
    Report problems to ACTS International
    All pages in this site © Copyright 2005-2024 by ACTS International
    P.O. Box 73545, San Clemente, CA 92673 U.S.A.
     
    HOME   Daily Encounter  Find Peace With God