Shaken Labels
John 4:9-10 KJV
(9) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
(10) Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
There are so many reasons for a breakdown of communication. Based upon status, career choice, family name, race, sports team affiliation, religion, or which side of town you live on, there can be a distaste for dealing with someone of a differing orientation. It’s like there is a continual categorization of people we encounter based upon their appearance and a preconceived stereotype we’ve developed by life’s influences. Having not even met someone of a certain group, there can be a specific reaction towards them based upon a specific bias. A child’s parent will refuse to even acknowledge the parent of a child from an opposing team, while the devotee to one political candidate will end a friendship with someone favoring the opposing candidate. Getting past these barriers can be most difficult even when there is an incredibly great potential for the relationship.
Our experience with the Father can be plagued with a similar challenge as our perception of Him can be negatively influenced by what has taken place in another’s life or just our own life’s circumstances. As He approaches with a request for us to give to Him out of our life’s resource, there can be a reticence to make this sacrifice until there is a revelation of just who this really is to whom we’re speaking. In worship there is an opportunity for this to take place as a song, a scripture and a prayer make way for Him to be magnified in our sights and experienced as the faithful good God that He has been and will always be. If it can only be known what He wants to pour into our life, our reticence will be transformed into prayers of faith for the living water that will come from Him in a time of communion free of distorted barriers or misperceptions. There is a way today past the wall to the water.