Carina Francke 

The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” John 4:15:
 
Jesus leaves Judea and travels to Galilee via Samaria. It was known as a “hostile” area. Tired from travelling, he sits down by the well in the town of Sychar. A Samaritan woman visits the well to draw water – alone. People avoid her and, in his omniscience, Jesus already knows that she is someone with a questionable reputation. She is an outsider living on the edge. But Jesus looks at her differently. As with us, there is no prejudice, He looks past our shortcomings and reputations. He sees the person. For Jesus, the woman, you, me and all other people are important.
 
He asks the woman for water. She frowns – at the time, Jews and Samaritans did not associate, ostensibly because the Samaritans defiled the Jews. And now he is asking her for water to drink! Jesus stays as cool as a cucumber. She believes he is a Jew. Though, he is much more. He is God’s gift to man. He gives living water (John 4:10) that quenches man’s thirst. But only to those who asks for it. The one who drinks this water, will never thirst again (John 4:13); it will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14) What Jesus is saying here, is that he is the only one able to fulfil hers, yours and my spiritual needs for ever. Have you experienced this truth in your life?
 
But she was mired in Jesus’ statement about water that quenches one’s thirst for ever. For her, it meant that, in future, she would never need to draw water at the well again. (John 4:15) Apparently, she thought of Jesus only on a physical, human level. She was unaware that her spiritual life was dried up by sin and that only Jesus with his godly gifts, could address her, and every other human being’s spiritual needs and thirst.
 
Finally, Jesus plucked a string of her dried-up heart: “Go call your husband and come here.” “I have no husband,” she replied. (John 4:16-17) An honest confession that opened the way for Jesus to unwrap her whole life up to that moment and speak hope into it. He summed up the essence of living water – it is to worship God. “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)
 
Do you understand this godly truth? No believer can ever worship God in spirit and truth without confirmation thereof by the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit, our prayers and spiritual lives are like empty words, blown away by the wind, or like water from an ordinary pit – incapable of quenching the Big Thirst in our lives.
 
With faith and expectation, the woman from Samaria confessed, “I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When He comes, he will explain everything to us.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” (John 4:25-26, NIV) When it dawned on her, this unlikely witness stepped forward as one sent. Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to town and witnessed to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:28)
 
The Word enlightens us: “Many Samaritans from that town, believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I did.’” (John 4:39) Many more believed because of his word. The truth penetrated: He is truly the Saviour of the world. (John 4:41-42)
 
Prayer: Father, thank you that unlikely individuals change into ones sent to minister to people. All to the glory of your wonderful name. If you can use me, I am willing to go. I know you will enable me. Amen
 

Carina Francke 

“Meneer, gee vir my van daardie water, sodat ek nie weer dors sal kry en hier hoef te kom water haal nie.” Johannes 4:15, 1983-vertaling
 
Jesus verlaat Judea en reis via Samaria na Galilea. Samaria was bekend as 'n “vyandige” gebied. Moeg van die reis, rus Hy by die fontein in die dorp Sigar. 'n Samaritaanse vrou kom alleen by die put aan om water te skep. In sy alwetende Godheid weet Jesus reeds dat sy van twyfelagtige reputasie is. 'n Vrou met wie min mense iets te doen wil hê. 'n Rantmens. Jesus kyk egter anders na haar. Soos ook met ons, kyk Hy verby alle vooroordeel, gebreke, beperkings en reputasie, en sien die mens raak. Voor Jesus is sy, jý, ek en alle ander mense ewe belangrik!
 
Hy vra die vrou vir water om te drink. Waarop sy fronsend reageer – Jode en Samaritane gaan nie met mekaar om nie, kwansuis omdat die Samaritane die Jode verontreinig. En nou kom vra Hy haar vir water! Jesus bly komkommer koel. Sy dink Hy is 'n Jood, maar eintlik is Hy baie meer. Hy is God se gawe aan die mensdom. Hy gee lewende water (Johannes 4:10) waarvan jy nie weer dors word as jy daarvan drink nie (Johannes 4:13); dit is 'n fontein met water wat opborrel en die ewige lewe gee (Johannes 4:14) aan elke mens wat daarom vra. Jesus sê hiermee dat Hy die Een is wat al haar, asook jou en my geestelike behoeftes vir ewig kan en sal vervul. Het dit al vir jou 'n waarheid in jou lewe geword?
 
Sy haak egter vas by Jesus se water wat dors vir altyd les en dit onnodig maak om elke dag putwater te kom skep. (Johannes 4:15) Dit verklap dat sy net op menslike vlak aan Jesus dink. Sy is onbewus dat haar geeslewe deur sonde verdroog is en dat net Jesus met sy goddelike gawes, haar en elke mens se geestelike behoeftes en dors kan aanspreek en vervul.
 
Einde ten laaste, tokkel Jesus 'n snaar van haar verdroogde hart: “Gaan roep jou man en kom terug hierheen." Waarop sy antwoord: “Ek het nie 'n man nie.” (Johannes 4:16-17) 'n Eerlike belydenis wat die pad vir Jesus oopmaak om haar hele lewe tot op daardie moment, oop te rol en hoop in haar lewe in te spreek. Hy som die kern van lewende water op – die aanbidding van God. “God is Gees, en die wat Hom aanbid, moet Hom deur die Gees en in waarheid aanbid.”(Johannes 4:24)
 
Verstaan jy hierdie waarheid? Geen gelowige kan God in gees en waarheid aanbid, tensy die Heilige Gees dit in en aan jou bevestig nie. Sonder die Gees is ons gebede en geestelike lewe soos leë woorde wat weggewaai word deur die wind, of soos water uit 'n put wat nooit die Groot Dors kan les nie.
 
Die vrou van Samaria het met geloof en verwagting bely: “Ek weet dat die Messias kom, Hy wat ook die Christus genoem word. Wanneer Hy kom, sal Hy alles aan ons bekend maak.” Toe sê Jesus vir haar: “Dit is Ek, Ek wat met jou praat.” (Johannes 4:25-26) Toe dit tot haar deurdring, tree die eers onwaarskynlike getuie na vore as 'n gestuurde getuie. Sy het haar waterkruik net daar laat staan en na die dorp toe gegaan en vir die mense gesê:’Kom kyk, hier is 'n man wat my alles vertel het wat ek gedoen het. Is Hy nie miskien die Christus nie?” (Johannes 4:28)
 
Die Woord getuig van gebeure hierna: “Baie van die Samaritane in daardie dorp het tot geloof in Jesus gekom op grond van die woorde van die vrou wat getuig het: “Hy het my alles vertel wat ek gedoen het.”(Johannes 4:39) Nog baie meer van hulle het toe tot geloof gekom op grond van wat Hy gesê het. Die waarheid het deurgedring: Hy is waarlik die Verlosser van die wêreld. (Johannes 4:41-42)
 
Gebed: Vader, dankie dat onwaarskynlike mense tot u eer verander in gestuurdes na mense. As U my kan gebruik, ek is gewillig om te gaan. Ek weet U sal my bekwaam maak. Amen
 

Carina Francke 

“This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down ... that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.” 1 Samuel 17:46-47b, ESV
 
The story of the young shepherd boy, David, who made the giant Goliath fall face down with just one stone, might be one of the most familiar Bible truths of godly bravery. Without being too harsh, not everyone has the courage to take on a giant, expert fighter all by him/herself. And then there is also the matter of fear that this Philistine instilled in David’s fellow Israelites. What makes David so certain that the Philistine can be beaten? And that he, David, can do this?
 
Firstly, David knows that God takes notice of Goliath’s contemptuous defiance towards Him. Therefore, God Himself, will come and fight for his people. Secondly, David chooses to look at this threatening situation through the eyes and perspective of God. His perspective was stripped of human opinions and conclusions! He focuses on the heart and not on appearances. Thirdly, David acknowledges the Lord who literally “deliver[ed] me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear.” (1 Samuel 17:37) Why would the Lord not save him from the Philistine?
 
And above all, he knows that God has the inside information of man’s heart. Whether it be the good or the bad. (1 Samuel 16:7) After all, God is and will always be the great I AM!
 
A question to you: How often do you remind yourself of the wonderful and good things that God has done in your life until now? Do you look for perspective through his eyes? And when you do that, do you also bind your (sometimes shrinking) faith to the Lord’s ability? Can you see yourself tackling your lion, bear, or a small Goliath, with faith in God?
 
David did not set foot on the battlefield in his own strength and power. He called on the highest Name of authority. He lines himself up on the side of “the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel.” (1 Samuel 17:45b)
 
In passing, David adds:” This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down … all the earth may know there is a God in Israel. (1 Samuel 17:46) To top it all off, he rubs salt into Goliath’s wounds – the Lord saves not with sword or spear. “For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.” (1 Samuel 17:47)
 
To David, the battle had nothing to do with fame. It was all about the glory and honour of God, the Almighty! To him, physical weapons were not the answer to win the fight, but faith in God that comes from within. (Swindoll. Memorable Scenes p51). Dear Friend, have you ever asked yourself what your motivation is for always wanting to walk away from a challenging situation successfully and triumphantly? Is it all about yourself or about glorifying God?
 
Prayer: Almighty Father, may my life be one of faith in your ability. Let my faith be woven into your omnipotence, and my attitude saturated by your love and care. Make me faithful and courageous in your presence and keep my two feet grounded in your love. Amen.

Carina Francke 

“Vandag sal die Here jou in my mag oorgee sodat ek jou kan verslaan. Dan sal die hierdie hele skare besef dat die Here nie deur swaard of spies verlos nie, maar dat die oorlog aan die Here behoort en dat Hy julle in ons mag oorgee.” 1 Samuel 17:46b-47, 1983-vertaling
 
Die storie van die jong skaapwagter Dawid, wat die reus Goliat met een klippie, op sy neus laat kyk het, is seker een van die bekendste Bybelwaarhede van Goddelike dapperheid. Sonder om te kras te oordeel, dit sit nie in enige mens se skoene om 'n baasvegter, en boonop 'n reus, mens-alleen aan te vat nie. En dan is daar nog die kwessie van die verlammende vrees wat hierdie Filistyn by Dawid se mede-Israeliete inboesem. Wat maak Dawid so seker dat Goliat verslaan kan word? En dat hý in staat is om dit te kan doen?
 
Eerstens weet Dawid dat God kennis neem van die minagtende uittarting deur Goliat, daarom sal Hy self tot sy volk se redding kom! Tweedens kies Dawid om deur God se oë na hierdie bedreigende situasie te kyk. Sy perspektief is immers sonder menslike opinies en afleidings! Hy kyk nie na die uiterlike soos die mens nie, maar wel na die binnekant, die mens se innerlike. Derdens gee Dawid erkenning aan God wat hom letterlik “uit die kloue van die leeu en die beer gered het.” Waarom sou God hom dan nie red uit die mag van hierdie Filistyn nie? (1 Samuel 17:37)
 
En veral weet hy dat God die mens se hart ken – ook die wegsteekdinge. (1 Samuel 16:7) Hoe dan anders? God is en bly die enige groot EK IS.
 
'n Vraag aan jou: Hoe dikwels herinner jy jouself aan die wonderlike en goeie dinge wat God tot nou toe in jou lewe gedoen het? Kyk jy deur sy oë om perspektief te kry? En wanneer jy dit doen, bind jy ook jou (soms krimpende) geloof, stywer aan God se vermoë vas? Sien jy kans om jou leeu, beer of dalk net 'n klein Goliat, met geloof die geveg aan te sê?
 
Dawid betree nie hierdie gevegsterrein in eie krag en vermoë nie. Hy beroep hom op die hoogste Naam van gesag. Hy skaar hom dus by “die Here die Almagtige, die God van die linies van Israel.” (1 Samuel 17:45b)
 
En dan voeg Dawid so terloops by: “Vandag sal die Here jou in my mag oorgee sodat ek jou kan verslaan …” (1 Samuel17:46a) "… sodat die wêreld sal besef dat Israel 'n God het. (1 Samuel 17:46b) En toe vryf hy sommer nog sout in Goliat se wonde as hy verklaar dat die Here nie verlos deur swaard of spies nie, maar dat die oorlog aan die Here behoort. En dit is Hy wat die Filistyne aan die mag van die Israeliete oorgee. (1Samuel17:47)
 
Vir Dawid het die oorwinning nie gegaan oor roem vir homself nie, maar oor die eer en heerlikheid van God, die Here die Almagtige! Vir hom was dit nie die uiterlike wapens wat die oorlog wen nie, maar die geloof in God wat van binne kom. (CR Swindol: Memorable Scenes p51) Liewe Vriend, het jy jouself al afgevra wat jou motivering is om altyd oorwinnend en suksesvol uit 'n uitdagende of beproewende situasie te moet kom? Gaan dit oor jouself, of om God se eer te besing?
 
Gebed: Almagtige Vader, mag my lewe een van geloof in u outoriteit wees. Laat my geloof ingeweef wees in u almag en my gesindheid deurweek van u liefde en omgee. Maak my getrou en dapper om altyd twee voete in U, vasgegroei te leef. Amen
 
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