How to Shine Your Message to Your Neighbors
OPENING PRAYER:
: Jesus , help me see how you want me to shine my light to my neighbors today.
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?” Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him. John 4:27-30
REFLECT:
The scriptures above we see a great example of what Jesus can do if we shine our light to our neighbors. In the story which you can find the entire story in John chapter 4, Jesus meets with a Samaritan woman at a well. In the story the woman is at the well to get some water but Jesus used what she was doing to shine his light.
Jesus was at the well that day and started a conversation about water with her then he started talking about living water which only he has. The woman was interested in the living water and eventually was able to understand who Jesus was and what he was doing.
APPLY:
A lot of times we think that we have to strike up a super spiritual conversation in order to shine our light when in reality that is not true. Jesus started the conversation by talking about what she was interested in, she went to the well to get some water on a hot day and that’s where Jesus started.
Because of Jesus' willingness to start where she was she went to the entire town and told everyone about Jesus! We can only imagine how many other people heard the Gospel because of this interaction Jesus had with her. It shows us that if we start where we are we too can shine our light to our neighbors.
Did you recently move into a new neighborhood? Are there literal next door neighbors you haven’t met yet? Find a reason to go and introduce yourself to them next time they are outside. Is there a new coworker at work and you know you haven’t introduced yourself to them yet? You know they are interested in the company so start there, ask what brought them there. Anything you can do to start a relationship with someone is what you need to do. Once you have the relationship Jesus can shine through you every time you see that person.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Jesus help me have confidence to meet my neighbors where they are and help me share my story with others. Amen.
CONTINUED READING:
John 4:39-42