The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 4:5-7, “He came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his

son Joseph; 6and Jacob’s well was there.

Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

7There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give Me a drink.’”

Probably, the most difficult aspect of witnessing is starting the conversation. Jesus intentionally took the

route from Judea to Galilee that passed through Samaria. The Jews intentionally avoided that route because “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (v. 9). Yet, it was a considerable distance, and Jesus

was tired. He came to Jacob’s well and asked for a drink from a woman who had come there to draw water. Samaritans likewise had no dealings with Jews; but He needed the water, and, besides, it was a conversation starter.

I’ve often followed that plan in witnessing. Sometimes I give candy to children and create the opportunity

to talk with their parents. Sometimes I use humor and work into a conversation that leads to Jesus. It’s never complicated to share the Gospel when the barrier to conversation is removed.

Today, I had wearied myself with study and with searching through old papers that hadn’t been read in years. I relaxed with the intention of taking a short nap when the doorbell rang. It was a worker I knew, and

once we had exchanged thoughts about why he was there, I left him to his work and went back to my chair.

It was then that I realized I had not witnessed to him. What if this were his last opportunity to hear the Gospel? I wrestled with the idea, but knew that his soul was worth much more than my weary mind and body. So, I took advantage of the situation and shared the Good News.

Jesus climbed over several barriers when he undertook to speak to the woman at the well. Not only did their cultures and history not allow it, neither did men speak with women in public in those days –not even

with their own wives! Please read the rest of what happened. It’s in your Bible in the verses following those listed above. Consider what you might use as a conversation-opener. Then, when you next have the opportunity to share Jesus, do it with a smile and an attitude of love. How will people ever hear unless from someone who knows Jesus? It just may be that silence is our greatest sin.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”