Using Story to Love people…
Jesus Christ often modeled this pursuit in scripture. One story that is very influential to us is one about the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. He encountered a woman from a group of people that a typical man of his Jewish race would avoid. He saw through her mess, saw her deepest need for love, acceptance, and ultimately life, and offered it to her in a way that brought hope and transformation. HE KNEW HER STORY AND HE SPOKE INTO HER STORY! With the “living water” came restoration of her soul, peace between people, and hope for true worship “in Spirit and in truth.” The conversation was real, raw, honest, and freeing. Christ extended an unconditional love: it didn’t depend on her heritage, social status or achievements. “This is grace: an invitation to be beautiful” (to quote Sarah Groves), to experience redemption and freedom at a level that we couldn’t apart from God who knows and loves us better than anyone else. This is where we find our wholeness: face to face with Him.
It’s our hope that we can live in such a way that God uses us to extend this same grace to others. He has changed our lives and made us who we are today. Join us in praying that He will do the same for those we encounter: our friends, family, community, ministry circle…
