Jesus Speaks to Women: And Women Obey

39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word.42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” John 4: 39-42

I love this passage...the power of personal testimony is evident in these words.  The Samaritan woman's willingness to  drop it all and go tell others, even those who have never been nice to her, about the Holy Man who "knew all about her," made a huge difference in the lives of those who heard her.  However, one thought occured to me while reading these words:  it is not up to me to change people's minds...

Has it ever happened to you that you deliver, what you think is a very convincing argument about faith or anything else (for example, the importance of rinsing the bowl after eating oatmeal or something crucial like that), only to be slapped on the face with the flat out rejection of those who received it?

Ugh!!!!

It's so frustrating and heart breaking, isn't it?  Especially when your audience is someone you really, really care about!  I don't know how many times I have lectured Dylan about not placing so much emphasis on the material and/or physical appearance.  I mean, I have almost made myself cry often with my own speeches...only to hear Dylan say at the end stuff like:  "When can you take me in for a haircut and to buy some styling products?"

Double sigh...

The truth is, we must do our job, fulfill the great commission, and leave the rest to the Holy Spirit: 

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1: 8

That's basically what happened to the Samaritan woman.  She received the power of the Holy Spirit through her encounter with Jesus, and it was such empowerment what moved her to drop her jar and run to announce His presence and His glory!  Her testimony moved people to Christ as she pointed them to Him.  But it was the power of the Holy Spirit emanating through their own contact with Jesus what moved them to believe.  It was their personal encounter with His Word, what made them believe in The Word, and what revealed to them that He is, indeed The Savior of the World!

We can only do our part: to give our testimony and point people to Christ.  The Holy Spirit does the rest.  The outcome is not in our hands.

The feeling of frustration is a tool of the devil.  The enemy instils that frustration in us to make us quit.  Fear is a liar.  We must hang on tight to the One Who Empowers us!  He has overcome the world, and so shall we!  In Christ's name, Amen!