Category Archives: pmerrill

Jesus knew

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He knew all about the woman’s life before she told Him anything.

It didn’t take long for her to figure this out. She heard His probing description of her personal life and quickly bounced the conversation in a different direction. That’s in verse 20 of John 4 – the story of the Samaritan woman.

More than knowing about her life circumstances, Jesus knew what she needed… she needed water that would satisfy more than water from the ancient well she came to get water from. She needed living water – His life being poured into hers.

I’m not much different than the Samaritan woman. I look for satisfaction from sources that won’t fill the hole. I often think, “If I could just have this happen, I’d be satisfied.” Or, “If I could just get an iPhone, I wouldn’t be ashamed when I go to business meetings.”

You and I both know that things and circumstances won’t fill our deepest desires. Even relationships won’t. Things, circumstances, great food, excellent coffee or significant relationships will meet some of our desires. And oftentimes those are OK or even good. But when I look to anything other than Jesus for filling my deep need for fulfillment, I will ultimately come away empty. That realization may take an hour – or months – but eventually it will hit.

Jesus always wants me back. He didn’t tell the Samaritan woman how wrong she was. He just invited her to drink the living water. Once she realized what he was talking about, she dropped everything to tell her friends and family. They came and believed too.

If it’s real, we will want to share it. If it’s not real for you today, ask Jesus to make His living water more real. He will.

Wait. Ask again. And rest while you wait.

(Paul Merrill normally writes here every First Friday. Because of the advent series starting tomorrow, he’s writing on the last Wednesday of the month.)

Rest. Pray. Talk.

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Three teenage young men are excitedly discussing music videos and life in the next room. I’m glad for the extreme enthusiasm flowing through the doorway.

Sometimes I am a tired parent. That youthful enthusiasm rises to the surface fewer times than it did in my earlier years. So it’s nice to be surrounded by that!

Jesus was not “up” all the time. In Mark 6, he just had to get away. He took his band of closest buddies with him. He just knew that he had to get some space.

I don’t know if Jesus was an introvert or an extrovert – but he was definitely a rock star. That level of celebrity would be hard for anyone to cope with. Jesus coped and rose above the pressing crowd sometimes in a human and a divine way. He did know when he needed space and rest. He also knew when he needed to fight a battle alone.

As Jon has reminded us several times, it’s OK to get away sometimes. You need a break. God created seven days with six for working and the seventh for rest. This principle is from the beginning of the Bible to the very end.

We sometimes feel like there is so much important stuff going on that it would be foolish to say no to any of it.

Wrong.

Stop at least once a week. Take more than an hour. Step away from your computer and turn your cell phone off. Go for a walk with your best friend, if they’re near. Call them, if they’re far. Remember that when Jesus got away in Mark 6, he went with his friends. Sometimes we just need to be with people who love us – even if they don’t completely understand us. Or just pray. God always understands.

Abide

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Abide is one of those words that left our vocabulary about the time most people stopped using the King James Version of the Bible.

But it’s a great word.

In John 15:5-7, Jesus speaks about abiding in Him. I don’t want to summarize what he said, so here’s the passage (from the New Living Translation):

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!”

Jesus loved using analogies that spoke to the people of his day. Many people back then had their own vineyard. Or they worked for someone who did. Grapevines are hearty long-living plants. And with care, they can produce some of the world’s most amazing fruit. But obviously, if you cut a branch off and let it fall to the ground, it will die.

Last week, there were a few days when I did not abide. I was miserable while I was away from the vine. Thankfully, God rescued me from my own selfishness, and I came back.

Our lives are so fragile. Let’s stay close to Jesus. The momentary satisfaction of having our own way is a very short-lived pleasure.

I’ve enjoyed reading the book, More Than Ordinary: Enjoying Life with God, by Doug Sherman. One of Doug’s main points is that we should live each hour and each moment with Jesus sitting next to us. Just invite Him to be part of every day.

(Paul Merrill writes here every First Friday.)

The joy of your presence

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God wants to be with us. He wants to share a cup of coffee during our early mornings, chat for a few moments in the lull of our mid afternoons – and relax next to us while we watch TV at night.

The beginning of Genesis describes the Garden of Eden, the perfect place God created for Adam and Eve to enjoy life. In chapter 3 is this great little sentence: “When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden.” God was sharing that garden with them. He wanted to hang out a little, but it was too late. (They had just chosen to eat the forbidden fruit, which tragically messed everything up.)

Jesus made it possible for us to return to that place. While we can’t get the full experience till heaven, here and now we can experience more of those quiet walks with him in our gardens. All we have to do is invite Him along. And we need to remove the boulders in the path between us and Him – those things we know that don’t make Him happy. You know it when you cross the line. Your conscience kicks in and says you’re stepping too far. Tell Him about those things and ask Him to help you deal with them. He will!

Then…

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. (Psalm 16:11.)

Finally, note that this journey is a process. “You will show me…” It’s a lifetime thing (and beyond). Our trek through this garden is best when God walks with us along each new path and juncture – through every rocky patch and across each grassy meadow.

(Paul Merrill writes here every First Friday)

Stop

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Sometimes the best way to start over is to clear your plate.

The most vibrant church Heather and I were part of did just that. They wiped all their ministries off the plate. Small groups, worship teams, drama, Sunday school programs. Everything. And they let God rebuild the church slowly.

They lost a lot of members. But the result was a fresh new thing. They (and we) found that the new church was open to what God wanted to do through them, rather than being stuck with, “We’ve always done it that way.” Silos of power were broken down. Those married to old systems left. New people joined who were more open to God’s movement.

In Leviticus 25, God announced a plan for the Israelites called the “Year of Jubilee.” After every 49 years, all property would revert to its original owners. Slaves were also set free. The chapter includes ways that the system would work.

We easily become slaves to the systems we set up. We often end up going through the motions rather than doing things for the purposes we (or others) originally intended.

So I’d urge you (and me) to examine what things we can cut out this summer – allowing God to have a fresh start with us. Be radical. It will hurt. But after the wounds heal, we may find more health than we’ve experienced in a long while.

Unlike Leviticus 25, I am not going to give you a road map for how to do this. You’ll have to work that out with God and others involved. I would suggest starting with prayer. Ask God how He wants you to start over. Be still. Listen to Him.

Have you done this already at some point in your life? Please tell your story in the comments.

(Paul Merrill writes here every First Friday)