- John 13:34 (NIV): “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another”.
- John 15:12 (NIV): “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you”.
- 1 John 4:7 (NIV): “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God”.
- Romans 12:10 (NIV): “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves”.
- Ephesians 4:32 (NIV): “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”.
- I have been thinking on the above scriptures and I began to see my thinking was a bit distorted when it came to words like, “just as in Christ God forgave you. Love others like He loves me! Honor others above myself!” Does anyone else have troubling thoughts about such language? I realized I need to gently rubber band stretch my distorted thinking.
- I paused to think on the gentleness of Jesus when He would respond to others that might have been church pew sitting with me for years.
- The Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in John 4 had a mind-action changing experience after a conversation with Jesus. Jesus pushed aside social, gender, and racial barriers by communicating to her an offer of God’s living water
- Jesus responded to her, “If you recognized God’s gift and who is saying to you, ‘Give me some water to drink,’ you would be asking him and he would give you living water.”
—John 4:10 (CEB)
In a Morning Devotion I read; “The kind of drinking that Jesus invites us to is not the polite, sipping from our teacups with pinkies extended kind of drinking. It’s a drinking that drenches us, that causes rivers of living water to flow out of our hearts.” By Jan L. Richardson, In the Sanctuary of Women: A Companion for Reflection and Prayer
Today, we are told by religious leaders, politicians, news shows as well as neighbors, family and friends we are broken apart and shattered rather than whole and healed.
Seems to be true but not hopeless when I allow these scriptures to change my way of thinking!
thedailylily.com 
Sara, your words here give us a true insight into who Jesus is…“Jesus pushed aside social, gender, and racial barriers by communicating to her an offer of God’s living water…”
He looked into her being, her sordid past, her needs…and knew He loved, and died for her just as much as anyone for we are all sinners with various pasts and needs.
“Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” John 4:29
Sara asks, “…Does anyone else have troubling thoughts about such language? “
Yes, because I find myself often reacting or wanting to react to others rather than pausing to consider the scripture you wrote, Sara, which communicates a heart of Jesus love for others. “Ephesians 4:32 (NIV): “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”.
I think this account from John 4 and what you wrote, Sara, is extremely encouraging…”we are broken apart and shattered rather than whole and healed. Seems to be true but not hopeless when I allow these scriptures to change my way of thinking!”
I see the photo as telling us a lot. Paper people…fragile we are and easily torn. Faceless people…not just a number or statistic but precious to Jesus who knows everything about us. White figures…though our sins are as scarlet, He makes them white as snow. Holding hands in connection… “Romans 12:10 (NIV): “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves”.
The footnotes for Ephesians 4:32 says: (NLT) “This is Christ’s law of forgiveness as taught in the Gospels (Matthew 6: 14,15; 18:35; Mark 11:25). We also see it in the Lord’s Prayer— ‘Forgive us our sins. As we forgive those who sent against us’ (Luke 11:4). God forgives us, not because we forgive others, but solely because of his great mercy. As we come to understand his mercy, however, we will want to be like him. Having received forgiveness, we will pass it on to others. Those who are unwilling to forgive, have not become one with Christ, who was willing to forgive even those who crucified him (Luke 23:34).
Sara, you have asked us if we have troubling thoughts about such language “? I would have to say yes to this question, if I’m honest? But when you read the above Scriptures and the note you put about the need to “rubber band stretch my thinking”, you sure put some truth in it! 🙏
I read and reread Debi and Tammy’s comments. I am reminded with action by singing, albeit off key, “Where the Healing Waters Flow.”
I’ve cast my heavy burdens down on Canaan’s happy shore,
I’m living where the healing waters flow;
I’ll wander in the wilderness of doubt and sin no more;
I’m living where the healing waters flow.
V1 and now vs 4 “
I’m singing Hallelujah, safely anchored in my soul,
I’m living where the healing waters flow;
I’m resting on His promises; the blood has made me whole;
I’m living where the healing waters flow.”
Author: Ina Duley Ogdon
Ogdon, Ina Duley. (Rossville, Illinois, 1872–May 18, 1964, Toledo, Ohio). Disciples of Christ. Granddaughter of a Methodist minister, she was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William W. Duley. Married James Ogdon. She wrote: “My father went with my mother to her church after his marriage to her, so I was brought up in the church of the Disciples of Christ.” She wrote over three thousand hymns, anthems, cantatas, and miscellaneous verse. Her hymns include “Brighten the corner where you are,” 1912; “Carry your cross with a smile,” 1916; “My Lord abides;” “When you know Jesus too;” “Tell Jesus;” “Lighten the burden for someone;” “I have been saved,” Her first hymn was “Open wide the window.” Much more….
—John 4:10 (CEB)
And, we like the Samaritan can live where the Healing waters are flowing! Now, my question to me how do I share living water?
Thanks for stretching my thinking!
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” [1 John 4:18].
Think about this love is healing! Fear may be debilitating.
“…the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”… Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you….” When he had said this, he breathed on them…. [John 20:19–22].
Gracious Heavenly Father, I’ve recently heard about a young HS student that is seeking a directive for their life as we see the end of this school year draw to a close.
A diligent teacher in conversation with student heard she is looking to find ways to connect with others and others to others. It seemed the desire was awfully big for the teacher’s mind to fully grasp as it would be for most of us. Yet, the teacher thought quickly and used her iPhone to show our paper people and thedailylily site as a reference to help find guidance and above all guidance from the One that has the skill and authority to guide this precious student. May she find the space and people that you have carved out and designated for her heart’s desires. Give many joyful blessings to this student as she connects people to people for a united purpose that rings big in her heart. In your name, I pray. sm 5/3/26
I agree with you in prayer, Sara, for this student and the request you have written and prayed.
Our Father who art in Heaven give us this day our daily bread and may your will be done on earth as in heaven.
I lift a LC special teacher, your precious child, up to you for a joyful hope that rings big in my heart for her and another and others. You have a life companion waiting for their connection. As we see the visual of our scissor paper art connect, we connect our prayers for this special connection to come into view and join hands in unity as You have prepared for this time.
We join hands and rejoice with her and them as a couple to be Light into the world wherever they go. We know they will go with You Holy Spirit.
We continue to add hand to hand in a joyful celebration for this union.
I want to say I give thanks for the beautiful deeds she has shown to me and many others. In Your name, I pray. sm 5/3/26
I join hands and prayers with you for this beautiful request as well, Sara.