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A Tough Case

July 13, 2003

She was a tough case. She was racially mixed and considered inferior by many. She had some religious beliefs that had been instilled in her by the traditions of her family and heritage, but they were a mixture of truth and falsehood. Her life had not been successful by any set of standards. She had been married to five different men, and now was living with a man who wouldn't even marry her.
She avoided situations where she would have to deal with the respectable women in her town. Her reputation was not one of high character and influence. She had a sharp and sarcastic tongue when it came to dealing with those she felt were looking down on her. Spiritually, shw was very dry. If we were making a list of "prospects" for conversion, it is not likely that her name would have been on it. All in all, she was a tough case!
            But Jesus specializes in tough cases! Especially when he finds someone whose soul is dry and thirsty. If they can be led to understand that their thirst can be quenched, Jesus offers "living water" to refresh them. An encounter with Jesus had the potential to reach even a tough case like her's. We read of this amazing encounter in John 4 in the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well.
            You may look at your own life and the mess it is in and say, "I'm a tough case for Jesus." You may look at someone else's life and say, "What could the Lord do with a tough case like that?" With the love of Jesus shown to a heart and with the hope that comes by being loved, you might see a soul that is dry and thirsty refreshed and renewed in a way you never though possible. And you will know that it could only happen by the power of God and the "living water" that flows from the Lord Jesus Christ! Read John 4 and watch the encounter and the result that followed!            [Doug Post]

Wo Wo or Woo Woo

Monte Ginnings

One of the most popular singing groups of the 60s and 70s was Simon and Garfunkel. But into the 1970s the two singers split up after being remarkably successful as a team. When asked why they separated Garfunkel said it had to do with the lyrics of a song. In one of their famous tunes he wanted to sing "woo, woo, woo," but Simon insisted on "wo, wo, wo." They could not come to an agreement, he says, and so they severed their ties.
            That was probably not all that was involved but this illustrates what can happen in relationships. Something trivial can be blown out of proportion and destroy connections. And even a whole series of trivialities are still just that: trivial, insignificant, and silly, compared to the important things.
            In one of the best self-improvement books on the market, the author advises us to ask before we make an issue of something this question: Is it really that important? Most of the time the answer will come thundering back: NO, IT'S NOT.
            Our Master mastered the human experience perfectly, and clearly He always could and did distinguish between the marginal and main issues (Matthew 6:33). So should we.

Your __________ Or Your Life!

Cecil May III

In the old Jack Benny bit, the man with the gun attempts to extort Jack with the threat, "Your money or your life!" When Jack does not immediately respond, the man asks, "Well?" Stingy Jack replies, "I'm thinking about it." That is funny precisely because it is so ridiculous. No one could possibly have so much money in their wallet that it is worth dying for, for that amount of money does not exist. Dead men spend no bills.
Jesus asked a similar question in a serious context. And, believe it or not, many people (maybe even you) are saying, "I'm thinking about it." What shall a man give in exchange for his life? Matthew 16:26
Jesus did not restrict the choice to money. Fill in the line with any item.

"Your __________ or your life!" Try these:

BUSINESS
HOBBY
FORTUNE
FAME
PRIDE
RECREATION
SOCIAL STANDING
PET VICE
SELFISHNESS
CONTROL
SINFUL PLEASURES

This list in its entirety is not worth one's life. Much less is a single item on the list a worthwhile trade for life in the Son. The writer of Ecclesiastes tried those things and found that a life centered around such was "vanity." A life centered on Christ is not vain. So what are you thinking about?