Restoring The One Who Has Hit Rock Bottom (In Honor of the 2024 National Day of Prayer)
Everybody knew.
The woman had been married five times. To add to her scandalous reputation, the man she was now living with wasn’t her husband. Her neighbors wanted nothing to do with her – except as a source of delicious gossip.
Shame reigned in the woman’s heart. Judgment reigned in her neighbors’.
Then … Jesus entered the scene.
John 4:7-42 tells us the same crowd that had previously condemned the woman’s way of life later thanked her for telling them about Jesus. From one disgraced woman arose a ministry that impacted an entire community.
This week, we’ll focus on the final section of 1 Corinthians 13:6 (ESV):
[Love] does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
As we discussed last week, God calls us to rise above the temptation to gossip when people make devastating choices that ruin their lives and relationships. It’s especially easy to fall into this trap when it involves someone we don’t particularly like. But when we choose to behave this way, we further the decay of our country, our community and even our churches.
Wouldn’t it be better if, when we hear about people who have blown it, we looked for ways to bring God’s truth into their situations?
- We could start by admitting (to ourselves and to God) that we, too, have made poor choices.
- Then, we could seek ways to help those who are struggling to overcome or live with the consequences they’re experiencing.
- We could let them know how others have been there for us during our times of struggle and offer to attend an AA meeting or other appropriate support group with them.
- We could also invite them to church and share a meal afterward.
Let’s ask God to show us meaningful ways to get involved and then step out in faith to do what He tells us.
This year’s National Day of Prayer (May 2) theme is “Lift Up the Word, Light Up the World.” Let’s live and behave in a way that reflects God’s Light to the world (Matthew 5:14). May our choices glorify our heavenly Father and be a light to those who are in darkness. The joy we experience while helping restore people’s lives far outweighs the fun of relishing in their downfall, even when – especially when – we help someone we previously scorned.
What do you think?
I’d love to hear your thoughts about this post. (Your comment might also benefit others.)
- Recalling our opening story, how do you think the woman started her day the morning after she met Jesus?
- How would you?
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Thank you so much for this.
You are so welcome, Melanie! Truth be told, God often teaches me His ways as I write these devotions. 😉
This is such a timely blog post considering all the scandalous gossip revolving around political figures in an election year. Better to use our words in prayer to ask God for truth, restoration of those who fall short of His ways, and to not waste words on gossip not worth repeating.
Jesus was so good to and good for the woman at the well to give her living water. She was refreshed and willing to share with others in her realm. We, too, should be very willing to shsre a refreshing of the soulin our parched and weary land.
WELL said, Janice!! Thank you.
I imagine the woman repented and decided to take the right path after meeting Jesus at the well.
Looking back to my earlier years I was lost and didn’t realize that I was only hurting myself.
Years later it was if I was that woman who Jesus met at the well. He reassured me that I could turn my life around. He took my hand and told me that my belief had set me free.
THANK you, Sandra, for answering my “What do you think?” questions. Love your answers.
One thought: when you said that you were only hurting yourself, I wonder if perhaps you would agree that your actions sometimes also hurt those who loved you. (You think?)
I certainly can relate to the woman in that I had many failed relationships before being married, because I always went about it in the wrong way, definitely not in God’s way! But when God sent my husband into my life, many things changed for the better even though I still wasn’t a Christian! The Lord knew he would be a good husband and father and I needed stability. God changes people through many avenues even before they are believers, so we need to be sensitive to His leading in other’s lives. How can we reach out to our neighbors even when we don’t always agree with them? Since I’ve done many things in my life, I’m not proud of in my past, I’m more open to reaching out to others, even if they are a bit different than I. Thanks Sheryl! ✝️️
I especially love the last half of your comment, Kim. (Although the whole comment was good. ) I’ve always appreciated your heart for others!
Having been on the receiving end of much criticisms and nasty behaviors from the church, not one person ever asked what was going on. Basically, it was physical health issues immediately after military service. I was physically unable to care for others as I was barely making it. They never asked. I ended up changing denominations.
This is so sad, Robert. I hate that this happened to you, and I can only imagine how painful that must have been.
No problem. Took a long time to physically recover, but got passed that and moved on. Joined a small independent church. Even well into a ThD program.
Forgot to mention. Not only did I “move on”, but literally did so to the other side of the U.S.! Great decision. Life rapidly turned around from the previous negative environment.
I appreciate you letting us know you’re doing better (on several levels), Robert. My last comment’s original wording included the question, “May I ask how you’re doing?” However, I deleted it, thinking that it would have been too personal.