Leaving her water jar behind

^{by: carole l. haines}

²³ Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. ²⁴ God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” ²⁵ The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” ²⁶ Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” ²⁷ Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” ²⁸ Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, ²⁹ “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” ³⁰ They came out of the town and made their way toward him. (John 4:23-29 NIV)

And leaving her water jar behind.  What do we need to leave behind us, in order to do as the Samaritans did when they heard about Jesus?  It says they came out of town and made their way toward Him.  What do we need to come out of, in order to make our way toward Jesus?  Are you stuck today?  Do you miss Him, as I do?  These words nearly leapt off the page at me this morning and I was reading The Word.  I am helping lead a Bible Study right now called, “Unashamed,” by Christine Caine.  I am surprised a bit, that at my age, I am finding God still revealing things from my past that are holding me back from fully walking with Jesus, and serving Him as I desire to.  Christine uses the verse Galatians 5:1; It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (NIV)

It truly is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  So why do we let things hold us down, keep us back, from walking in all the freedom Christ bought for us with His own suffering and death?  We are told here, to “Stand firm, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” The word ‘burdened’ in this context means, ensnared, entangled or be held.  Since we are urged not to let ourselves be burdened, we can know that it is our responsibility to watch over the freedom purchased for us by Christ. We must be vigilant, and not allow the enemy to ensnare us, entangle us, and hold us down. Beautiful believer, let the Holy Spirit examine you and show you what you must leave behind, like the Samaritans water jar, in order to move forward with Christ.  I love what Scripture says about God’s commitment to our freedom:

¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. (2 Corinthians 2:14 NASB)