This week’s devotions are based on Week 2: Grateful Hearts GROW Together (WATCH HERE)
John 4:28 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 Christ?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”
32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”
33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”
34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
Have you ever put off doing something because you thought there would be a better time? Maybe you wanted to make a phone call, reconnect with an old friend, invite someone to church, or have a conversation about faith. You told yourself you would get around to it. Maybe when things slowed down, when you felt more comfortable, or when the opportunity seemed just right. Sometimes we spend so much time waiting for the right moment that we miss the opportunities God has already placed in front of us.
That’s exactly what Jesus was addressing with his disciples in John 4. The disciples were thinking about the physical harvest, which was still months away. But Jesus wanted them to see something much more important. A spiritual harvest was already taking place right in front of them! The Samaritan woman had just met Jesus, and her life had been changed. She went back into town and told others about the man who knew everything about her. Her simple invitation brought people out of the town to meet Jesus. While the disciples were thinking about food and waiting for the future, Jesus was pointing to people who were ready to hear the good news.
Jesus’ words are a challenge for us, too: “Open your eyes!” It’s easy to become so focused on our own schedules, responsibilities, and plans that we overlook the people around us. We see neighbors, coworkers, friends, and strangers, but do we see the opportunities God gives us to share his grace? We sometimes assume that people aren’t interested in spiritual things or that they already have everything figured out. Yet we don’t always know what is happening in someone’s heart. A person who seems to have everything together may be struggling with loneliness, guilt, or uncertainty. Someone who rarely talks about faith may be longing for hope.
The good news is that we don’t have to create the perfect opportunity or have all the answers. We simply need to be willing to take a step. The Samaritan woman didn’t have a theological degree or years of experience. She simply shared what Jesus had done for her. Her invitation was simple: “Come, see a man…” And God used her words to bring others to Jesus.
As we look around Georgetown, we see a growing community filled with new families, new neighbors, and new opportunities. We can spend all our time preparing for what might happen someday, or we can open our eyes to what God is doing today. Our building project may create more opportunities in the future, but we don’t have to wait for a bigger building to start reaching people. The harvest is already around us!
You know someone who may need an encouraging word, a listening ear, an invitation to worship, or simply need to hear that Jesus loves them. Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Don’t assume someone else will do it. Take a step of faith and trust God to use even the simplest words and actions.
The harvest isn’t always somewhere down the road. Sometimes it’s standing right in front of us. Don’t wait four more months!
Reflect: Who has God placed in your life that might need to hear about Jesus or experience his love? What might be keeping you from reaching out? What is one simple step you can take this week to open your eyes and recognize an opportunity to share your faith?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for placing people in our lives who have shared the good news of Jesus with us. Forgive us for the times we have been too busy, too comfortable, or too hesitant to share that same good news with others. Open our eyes to see the people around us who need your love, forgiveness, and hope. Give us courage to speak, compassion to listen, and willingness to reach out. Use us today to plant seeds of faith and invite others to know the Savior who loves them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.