JULY 1, 2015
Raise Your Hand
Read:
John
4:7-15,28-30
God
did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world
through Him might be saved. — John 3:17
The St. Olaf Choir
from Northfield, Minnesota, is renowned for making beautiful music. One reason
for its excellence is the selection process. Applicants are chosen based not
only on how well they sing but also on how they sound as part of the whole.
Another reason is that all members agree to make the choir their first priority
and commit to a rigorous rehearsal and performance schedule.
One of the things that
intrigues me the most about this choir is what happens during rehearsals.
Whenever members make a mistake, they raise their hand. Instead of trying to
hide the blunder, they call attention to it! This allows the conductor to help
each singer learn the difficult part, and it increases the likelihood of a
flawless performance.
I think this is the
kind of community Jesus was establishing when He told Nicodemus that God sent
His Son into the world to save it, not condemn it (John 3:17). Shortly after
this conversation, Jesus encountered a Samaritan woman at the public well. He
made it easy for her to admit failure by promising her a better way of life
where she could enjoy His forgiveness (John 4).
As members of Christ’s
body on Earth, we should not fear admitting our wrongs but welcome it as an
opportunity to together experience and rejoice in the forgiveness of God.
Lord, it’s our
tendency to hide our sins and flaws. May we come to You in full honesty,
understanding that we are loved and forgiven by You.
We can’t put our sins behind us until we are ready to face them.
INSIGHT:
Jesus crossed racial,
cultural, theological, gender, and social boundaries when He spoke to the woman
at the well. Samaritans were the descendants of the Israelites who intermarried
with the Assyrians. Because of this, Samaritan customs and theology often
differed from those of the Jews. The Samaritan woman was also an outcast among
her own people for her failed relationships and immoral behavior. What a
wonderful picture of the Savior reaching beyond all barriers with His love.
Source: Our Daily Bread 2015
