“Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him. John 4:29-30 (NLT)
There are days after I spend some time with God that I want to stay put. I am filled with awe and peace and going out to face the day (the world) is not appealing to me. It feels like a lot of work and stress. So I want to linger; for hours or even all day just being content in my space.
But God does not call us to that life. The life where we get to hide and be safe. We are called to a life of sharing; sharing who he is and what he’s done in us.
The woman at the well in John 4 may have been tempted to keep what Jesus revealed to her to herself. She, after all, was not accepted in polite society. She was a loner. She came to well alone, after everyone else had gone. She was living with someone and not married. By all accounts at that time, she was criticized and ostracized.
After Jesus spoke into her heart though, she ran back to the village. The Bible says she left her water jugs and took off toward the town. I can imagine it now. Running into the village out of breath she shouted “Come! Come and see! There is this man, he saw into my heart. He spoke words unlike anything I’ve heard.” She faced what she normally hid from (people) and she gave God glory.
Because of her testimony, the people came. They experienced Jesus for themselves and they were also changed. This is how the gospel is supposed to work.
So, the next time you are tempted to hide in your space and not go out and face the world, remember. Remember the way Jesus speaks into your heart. Remember the way he has loved on and changed you. Then, go out and share that with others. Your testimony will help them meet Jesus.