Author: Cheryl

But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. Psalm 33:11

I visited USS North Carolina this week. She was the first vessel of the fast ships built by the Navy and played a vital role in the offensive plan of WW II. I’ve been on a commercial cruise ship, but the enormity of this ship was difficult for my mind to comprehend. One of the more interesting facts is that the boat was abandoned with everything still on board. All the goods in the store, food in the pantry, equipment, everything is preserved with the actual items of the day. It looks exactly like the day the last sailor walked off the ship. Climbing the ladders and roaming the decks, imagining the young men operating the massive guns and living below in the cramped quarters took me back to a place and time in an environment I’d never contemplated. Reading stories and accounts in the Bible can have the same effect. It isn’t easy to take ourselves out of the 21^st century and get an authentic vision of how life was in Biblical times.

It’s hard to visualize the story told in the 27^th chapter of Acts. The narrative unfolds with Paul as a prisoner aboard a huge grain ship with 275 other people bound for Rome.  While it was a large ship for the day, it did not compare to our modern ships. But yet, the sea has not changed. Devastating storms arose then, as they still do today. Luke, the writer of Acts, implies in verse 20 that everyone had lost hope when a fierce storm rocked them for days: “…..we finally gave up all hope of being saved.” This would include himself and Paul. But in the midst of despair, God sends Paul an angel to minister and encourage him. The angel assured him that not one person would perish, though the ship would be lost. The Bible doesn’t record the entire conversation between Paul and the angel. I imagine it wasn’t much of a conversation. Paul was probably in total listening mode, absorbing every detail of instruction. The story tells us that Paul knew they would run aground on an island (vs. 26) and must all stay on the boat to be saved, even though they attempted to jump ship (vs. 27-32). I think the angel probably laid out to Paul exactly how things had to happen for everyone to survive. Paul encouraged everyone with this knowledge and strongly advised them against creating their plan. They devised a plan to pretend to lower the anchor when they dropped the lifeboat to escape. Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved” (vs. 31). Paul trusted God’s promise and His plan. They needed to stick to the plan, even though they didn’t understand it.

In the storms of this earthly life, we all wish that God would send an angel to our bedside and give us every detail of how it will work out. I certainly have had that desire. But we can trust that He is with us, and we have His Word and the Holy Spirit to give us all the encouragement and hope we need. When the storms are particularly fierce and seem endless with no rescue in sight, we must cling to the promises daily and sometimes hourly. I’m sure Paul didn’t give them the plan once and was done. He probably had to keep shouting above the storm over and over again to stick to God’s plan to survive. And we need the same. We must open the Word, shout it above the storm, and let the hope it provides rain down and saturate us with His confidence in His plan. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.    

“…..which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship…..” Acts 27:17 (KJV)

One of my most favorite things about my trip to Israel was seeing the scriptures through the eyes of the Jewish language. Words that are so common to us and that we use daily to express ourselves can have an entirely different context in another language and at another time in history. A friend of mine often ended our prayers with a plea for God to “undergird” us with His strength. I love the word pictures “undergird” brings to mind and often use it myself in my prayers. I’ve learned that even a silly illustration of the modern-day girdle is not far from the original meaning. The story of Paul as he sets sail for Rome is filled with words that have a far deeper meaning than a mere scan of the text will reveal.

In Acts 27, we find Paul in the middle of a “northeaster” (vs. 14). The Greek word used to describe this storm was typhonikos. The words typhoon or hurricane describe the exact same weather event. It was a life-threatening storm. The ship’s captain attempted to sail along the coast, but the fierce storm drove them out to sea with no land in sight. “Since the ship was caught and was unable to head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along” (vs.15).   In this verse, the Greek verb means to “be seized with great violence,” and the same term is used in Luke 8:29 of a demon violently seizing a man. How often have we expected to go along hugging the safe coastline of life when we encounter a raging storm that drives us off course and takes us captive by force? We experience the suffocating swells, the disappointments sting like the biting rain, and we feel like we will break apart like the timbers of a sinking ship. But then we read verse 17, “After hoisting it up, they used ropes and tackle and girded up the ship.” It seems so simple that it’s easy to read right past it, but it gives us great insight as to how to handle the fiercest of storms.

The word “ropes” in the NIV translation is not the usual Greek word for ropes. It is the word boetheia. The word literally means “helps” and occurs only twice in the New Testament. Acts and Hebrews 4:16 says, “Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time” (italics added). Take a moment to picture the scene in your mind. Just like sailors encircle the boat’s hull with ropes to keep it from falling apart, God wraps us in His cords of mercy and grace to save us from falling apart in the storm. He permits storms, but He does not want us to fall apart. He desires to help us navigate with His Word and prayer. Those are essential GPS tools to strengthen and undergird us and guide us through the towering waves.

That’s the meaning of the unfamiliar term “undergird.” When we access the throne of grace, we are wrapped securely in the cords of God’s love and grace to fortify us to weather the storms and not fall apart. Do you need undergirding perseverance? Approach the throne and ask. Lord, undergird us this day with Your strength, Amen. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.

The picture is of the boats we rode in on the Sea of Galilee. They were crafted to look much like the boats of Jesus’s day and time. 

We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!  1 Cor 13:12 MSG

Record high temperatures for January had everyone breaking out the shorts and flip-flops last week. And living within a 30-minute drive to the beach, of course, we had to go there. If for no other reason than to say we went to the beach in January. The traffic in and out of Wrightsville Beach confirmed that we were not the only ones with thoughts of sand and surf dancing in our heads. The sun shone brightly as we approached the bridge to the beach, but ahead, we could see that it was about to change. It was a sight I had never seen before, at least not at the beach. A thick fog covered the area. I’ve experienced unexpected fog in the mountains, but never like this in the mid-afternoon of a bright and sunny 75-degree day at the beach. It was beautiful and eerie at the same time. A quick Google search enlightened me about sea fog—coastal fog forms when relatively warm, moist air passes over the cool water’s surface, and it is most common in the winter and spring months when the ocean is at its coolest.

It was strange to look from the shore and be able to hear, smell, and feel the ocean but not see it. The many wetsuit-clad surfers didn’t seem to mind that they couldn’t see; they ran expectedly towards the water. In the days since experiencing the sea fog phenomenon, I was struck by how it represents a metaphor for our lives. Whether it’s about my girls and the direction their lives are going or navigating this new season of life in a new place with new people, it all seems kind of foggy. I couldn’t see the ocean clearly, and I can’t see this earthly future. I can imagine it as I imagined the sea that day before the fog lifted. I can pray about and hope for it, but I have no certainty of the daily logistics or even if my imaginary, futuristic picture is correct. Only God knows. And, instead of wearing myself out trying to figure out the details or giving God advice on how He should handle the details, I need to align myself with what the Bible reveals. Just like the surfers, we should run expectedly! Seeking His kingdom and His righteousness daily, if not hourly. Have the trust and confidence that He is there, controlling the fog and the lift. The surfers trusted that the water was within the mist and would pick them up and carry them; the same is true of God. He is there, even in the fog. He will pick us up, and He will carry us; all we have to do is trust Him to do so. “Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul” (Psalm 143:8).

The fog lifted while enjoying a delicious lunch with an ocean view, and the sea’s landscape became visible. Tomorrow may be foggy, but the big picture is crystal clear.  As we move forward even in the thickest fogs, earnestly seeking Jesus, trusting Him with the details, and believing He loves and cares for us, the Light will shine through the mist because of His faithfulness. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.   

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1

State Road 74 connects Wilmington to our growing little town of Leland. It is a tree-lined, four-lane highway separated by a wide median.  Unlike the curvy roads of West Virginia, it is flat and straight, and visibility goes for miles. This week, traveling back home from a trip to Wilmington, I experienced probably one of the scariest and certainly potentially deadly incidents I’ve ever had behind the wheel. I was in the left-hand lane with a car in front of me and two cars beside me in the right-hand lane. Thankfully, about two car lengths were between us because we were going about 65mph. Suddenly, and I mean suddenly, the car in front of me puts on its brakes at a dead stop. I had two choices in that instant. Run into the vehicle in front of me, which would probably cause the tractor-trailer behind me to hit me and kill us all or go off into the median. I can only assume God and experience take over in those moments because, in those split seconds, there is truly no rational thinking occurring. Only fear is happening. As I drove across the rumble strip and into the grassy median, I could see the problem. A huge “something” was in the road, blocking the lane. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and I could drive my car from the middle of the median back onto the highway. No matter how many times I replay it in my head, I have no answer to the question, “With the range of visibility why did the person in front of me not see the road obstacle long before we were right on top of it and try to avoid it by slowing down and moving safely to the right?”

Life can be very much like this experience. For some unknown reason, we don’t see what is in the road ahead of us until it stops us in our tracks. I can make some assumptions about why the car was blinded to the roadblock. And being distracted by their phone is the first thing that comes to mind. Sometimes we are distracted, and not paying attention to the signs and sometimes the news blindsides us. The unexpected medical report, death of a loved one, a wayward child, financial crisis, and the list of unforeseen roadblocks is endless, but they are really all the same. They cause us to drive off the road, in a state of fear. How long we stay in the median in that state is really up to us. Does the fear paralyze us and not allow us to move forward out of the median, or do we turn to the One who was right by our side as we entered the median and remember He is the one who guides us, never leaves us, and soothes the quaking fear? “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deut 31:8). The roadblock can be small, be resolved quickly and become a blimp on the screen of our lives. Other roadblocks can be much larger and the impact and consequences completely change life’s landscape. No matter the size of the obstacle in the road, we can rest in the assurance that God and his providential sovereignty are in control, and all these experiences call us to trust God’s higher purposes. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.

The photo is of the sunrise this morning over the neighborhood.

Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1Peter 2:10

The question from the pastor on Sunday morning was, “Who are your people?” My mind flashed back almost fifteen years sitting across from my new boss. The dental practice I worked for had been sold, and now the new boss was trying to get to know his new staff. Not too far into the conversation, he asked me why I had worked for the previous owner for almost seven years. I remember wondering if it was a trick question to manipulate me into revealing any office discourse. So I kept my reply very generic and empathically replied, “Because these are my people!” He asked me to explain myself. I said my co-workers were my friends, and many of my patients were people I lived with in the community, church, school, Girl Scouts, and neighborhood. How would you answer that question? Who are your people?

In this new season of life called retirement, one of our most pressing prayers is for the Lord to show us our people. It’s hard to leave friends, neighbors, and colleagues behind, and finding new people when called to move is tough. After numerous military moves, you would think finding my people would be easy. But it is not, and according to the scriptures, I don’t know if easy is the right word. The process should be intentional and God-driven for sure. In Mark 3:31-35, Jesus describes who our people should be and the criteria required for them to be our people. Jesus is among a crowd, and someone relays the message that His mother, brothers, and sisters are asking to speak to Him. And Jesus replied, “Who are My mothers and My brothers?” I can only imagine the look on the faces of the crowd. In the passages just before this account in Mark, the scribes were accusing that Beelzebul or Satan possessed Jesus. Jesus was not helping his case here by asking the crowd who His mothers and brothers were. On top of being possessed, they can accuse Him of being demented. But He goes on to answer His own question and redefine the meaning of family. He looks around the circle and declares, “Here are My mother and brothers! Whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.” I imagine a sweet, gentle look on Jesus’ face, arms sweeping wide to include all sitting around Him and inviting them if they were not already to be a part of His family. As Christians, we are Jesus’ people!

So, what does that mean for us when we define our people? I believe every person that crosses our path in this life is a divine appointment. There are no coincidences. Some people are in our circle for many years, and some for only a brief time, and it is all under the sovereignty of God. Hopefully, many are Believers because we need fellow Believers in our circle for support and uplifting (Hebrews 10:23-25). But some will be unbelievers so that the world may see and know Jesus through us (John 17:23). I’m blessed to have many people with whom my life circle has intersected. Still, I have learned that only Christ’s definition is true when defining “my people,” not the one I gave to my new boss over a decade ago. It is those that do the will of God. And what is the glorious end to knowing who your people are? The answer is found in Revelation 21:3: Look! God’s home is now among His people. He will live with them, and they will be His people. We will all live together someday with God! And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.  

The picture, taken this summer before leaving VA, is of a few of “my people.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:16-19.

In my opinion, Christmas movies are in a class of their own. There are many kinds of Christmas movies that all end happily, but the irony is we already know the ending because we have seen it a dozen times. It is the only time of year when I will sit for hours and watch a movie I have seen so many times I practically know the lines. But even though I think I know all there is to know about the show, something seems always to catch me by surprise. It happened recently as I was flipping through the channels and caught the end of the 1994 remake of “Miracle on 34^th Street”.  

A few years ago, a much younger friend enlightened me that most millennials and younger have never seen many of the classical Christmas movies I grew up watching and made my kids watch. And honestly, I had never seen some of the films she traditionally watches during the holiday season. So, if you have never seen Miracle on 34^th Street, this is your spoiler alert. Watch it and come back to the Tidbit later! In this classic, an older man named Kris Kringle claims he is really Santa Claus, leading to a court case to determine his mental health and, more importantly, his authenticity. I flipped the channel just as the judge declared that Kris needed a miracle to win his case. That line had never struck me like it did that night. Kris’s lawyer had exhausted all his defenses, but that was not enough to win the case. He needed help from another source. How often do we deplete all our human resources and finally look up for help?

The original 1947 version has the same final ending but arrives at it differently than the remake. The original uses the postal service and thousands of letters written to Santa Claus as a defense mechanism, and the 1994 version uses a dollar bill. In 1994, fewer people used snail mail, and the almighty dollar was much more relevant. The judge’s moving speech alluded to Kris’s freedom as he pointed to the words on the dollar bill that say, “In God we Trust.” He went on to say the “Federal government puts its trust in God. It does so on faith and faith alone.” Plot twist: who would have ever thought a movie about Santa Claus would end up pointing to God and our need for faithfulness?

The story of Jesus’s birth is a Bible story that, as Christians, we have heard, read, and watched portrayed many times. And just when we think we know the verses line by line, one will touch our heart, and we will be amazed all over again at the wonder of His birth. Just like the movies, we already know the ending, but we must yearn to hear the story again and again. We should never tire or think God can not renew our minds with a familiar passage of scripture. Jesus was definitely a plot twist for the Jews. They were expecting a King, but the Messiah came as a babe. They were expecting to be delivered by the Law, but Jesus fulfilled the Law and called us to put our faith in Him. The ending is the same as the movie: Faith sets us free. Read and ponder the story of Christ’s birth this week and ask God to enlighten you to see something new and be amazed.  

As she sees Santa Claus, the amazement on Susan’s face (in the picture) is heartwarming. We can only imagine the faces of the Wisemen and kings when they saw Jesus. But I’m sure the look was the same, awestruck wonder. May we experience awestruck wonder and amazement this Christmas and every day as we remember the sacrifice that was made on our behalf.  And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.        

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy for all the people. Luke 2:10

I admittedly am a last-minute shopper. But being retired, I have found myself out and about much more than usual this time of year. According to the cashier at the Hobby Lobby, whom I chatted with briefly after over twenty minutes of waiting in line, I am correct in saying the hustle and bustle of the holiday season seems to be in full gear, and December has barely started. I love everything about Christmas and can be guilty of getting caught up in my to-do list, and my focus can get off-target. So I love it when God, in His infinite wisdom, unexpectedly guides me to a devotional, sermon, or something in everyday life that reminds me to adjust my priorities. The true joy of Christmas is found in God’s presence. When we step back from the busyness of Christmas or even the busyness of life and focus on the gift we were given, in Christ Jesus, the joy of the season will be found.

Busyness at any time, particularly at Christmas, can rob us of joy and is a genuine spiritual threat. As Christians, our lives should exude joy. Paul’s admonition to the church at Philippi was to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice!” (Phil 4:4). To the church of Galatia, he listed joy as one of the fruits of the Spirit that evidenced their freedom in Christ (Gal 5:22). When unbelievers see us, especially during the holidays, grumbling and stressed out wearing the tee-shirt that shouts “Jesus is the reason for the season,” I’m sure they are questioning more than our wardrobe selection. Jesus tells us in John 15:11 that we should be filled with the fullness of joy. Busyness attacks all that. As wonderful and fun as present wrapping, cookie baking, and holiday parties, all done in the name of Christmas can be, they tend to bombard our joy when we become overwhelmed and lose our focus.

Imagine the joy on parents’ faces as they welcome their newborn baby into this world. Then multiply that by tenfold. That is the joy we should feel when we focus on the source of our salvation, which came wrapped in swaddling clothes. David wrote in Psalm 16:11, “….in your presence there is fullness of joy.” Joy comes from living in the presence of God. And we should celebrate Christmas remembering what God did to make Himself known to us through His Son. That’s the real and everlasting Christmas party!  Don’t let the busyness of the season steal your joy. If you feel it slipping away, stop, take a deep breath, and sit in God’s presence for a while. Dig into His Word, listen to your favorite Christmas hymn or podcast, pray, or just be still and reflect on the gift you have been given and the joy it brings to your heart. Christmas is a season of great joy, and God wants us to enjoy it. It is His gift to us. And there is no better gift to be had. Joy to the world, the Lord has come! And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.

The picture is of geese that decided to cross the road in the middle of a busy intersection right in front of my car. Our only option was to sit and wait. It reminded me that sometimes, in the middle of the busiest times, we must stop and slowly waddle!

Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26

The story of Abraham and Isaac that was recounted in the last tidbit has many teachable truths, and almost every verse reveals a life lesson in righteous living. Throughout this week, I pondered Abraham’s three-day journey to where God had told him to go. He told Abraham not only the destination but also the mission. God didn’t call out to Abraham, tell him to go to the land of Moriah with Isaac, and then tell him He would let him know why he was called to go there after he got there. I believe that Abraham revered God so much that he would not have even questioned Him had that been true. But God told him straight up what had to be done, and I can’t even imagine the questions and pain Abraham experienced knowing for three days what he had to do. The scriptures don’t tell us that Abraham even uttered a word of response to God, not even a “why.” Instead, we witness Abraham’s amazing faith in that “he got up early the next morning” and prepared for the journey (Gen 22:3). When we know the coming day is going to be a difficult one, how often do we hit the snooze button to delay the inevitable a few more minutes? Not Abraham, and I can’t think of any day that is more difficult than the day that lay ahead of him. He knew that day, and the next two were going to be the worst days of his life, but his faith carried him forward despite the pain. When we trust God in the midst of our pain, He will help us move forward and reveal Himself to us as we walk in tangent with Him.   

I do have to wonder if thoughts of sacrificing Isaac constantly plagued Abraham or if he walked the three days in deep communion with God. Relying on the promises and believing that God would raise Isaac from the dead still didn’t absolve Isaac of the pain that he would have to endure. Watching a child endure pain that we cannot remove as a parent is heart-wrenching. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” During the three very long days, the Lord was with Abraham in his sorrow as He is for us in our hour of need. Psalm 23:4 says, “Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.” God is our peace in the desolate valleys of life.

“On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance” (Gen 22:4). I picture Abraham going along the dusty, dirt road with his head hung in prayer and sadness. But when he came to the precise spot God appointed, he looked up. He pulled his head out of the slump and lifted his eyes upward. Sometimes, even when the road ahead is difficult, we have to look up and move forward in faith to receive the blessings that God has to offer. How often do we keep our eyes on the ground and the dire situation and forget to look up?  How often do we miss what God has waiting for us: the more profound knowledge of Him, glimpses of His glory, and being propelled into His arms? When we “look up,” we don’t have to seek the “why” in our circumstances because His goodness and faithfulness are steadfast. He has the situation covered with the perfect plan, just like He did for Abraham and Isaac. As this Christmas season unfolds, I pray we remember Jesus is not just the reason for the season; He is THE REASON. Look Up! And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.   

The picture of the lamb was taken at Nazareth Village in Israel.

But here on this mountain, God-of-the-Angel-Armies will throw a feast for all the people of the world, a feast of the finest foods, a feast with vintage wines, a feast of seven courses, a feast lavish with gourmet desserts. And here on this mountain, God will banish the pall of doom hanging over all peoples, the shadow of doom darkening all nations. Yes, he’ll banish death forever. Isaiah 25: 6-8 (MSG)

I recently volunteered alongside my daughter, Brooke, at the Food Bank of central and eastern North Carolina. I humbly admit I was unfamiliar with the Food Bank organization, so I had no idea what I would do during my four-hour time slot. I have since learned that the Food Bank is an affiliate of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. The massive, completely self-reliant facility was built to withstand a category-five hurricane, and I can honestly say that I have never seen anything that compares to it. The gigantic refrigeration and freezers allow them to distribute over 97,000,000 pounds of food yearly. That equates to over 80,000,000 meals to those in need. The Food Bank partners with an average of 700 food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, and group homes. They depend heavily on volunteers to help prep and prepare the food, load it into disposable food containers, vacuum seal, box, and store it until ready to be distributed. At any one time, no less than 10,000 meals are in storage, ready for distribution. Their vision statement simply says, “No one goes hungry.”

Last week, I assisted with sealing and boxing the food containers. It was interesting to see the variety of meals, but I also noticed that the portion size was very modest. It was about the size of your typical “Lean Cuisine” frozen meal. And I wondered if that was enough to make sure that the recipient would not still be hungry. Would it be enough food to satisfy their hunger? In the book of Mark, Jesus had the opportunity to feed many people with only a little bit of food. He had thousands of hungry mouths to feed with only five loaves of bread and two fish (Mark 6:35-44). “Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.”  Not only were the people no longer hungry, but there were leftovers!  This miracle reveals many Biblical truths, but the one we don’t often recognize is an important aspect of God’s character: He always gives in abundance!    

We often give God our leftovers. Our leftover time, our leftover resources, our leftover minds and bodies after the day has physically and mentally drained us. But God only gives in abundance. He doesn’t supply just barely what we need and call it a day. He goes over and above, sometimes beyond anything we can imagine. His mercy abounds, His love is never-ending, His grace is unfathomable.

And in the most important demonstration of His abundance, God went so far as to send his Son to earth as a lowly human, to die on a cross to redeem rebellious, undeserving humanity. His gracious abundance provides us a pathway to eternity to live with Him forever. A place where hunger will not exist. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit. 

For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. Ezekiel 34: 11-12

Jesus’s encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well is a familiar passage to most of us (John 4:1-26). The Samaritan woman was a hot mess needing a lifestyle change for sure. Jesus offered her a drink of the Living Water, and she accepted and went on to tell the entire town. It is an amazing example of God’s grace to an undeserving soul. It reminds us that we all are undeserving souls dependent upon God’s grace and mercy for salvation. But this time, studying this passage, one little word caught my attention and took my thoughts in a different direction.

Chapter 4 of John opens with Jesus and his disciples traveling from Judea to Galilee. He left Judea and went again to Galilee. He had to travel through Samaria…..(John 4:3-4)   The little word I referred to is the word “had.” The scriptures said Jesus had to travel through Samaria when, in fact, He didn’t have to. Though it was the most direct route, most strict Jews traveled across the Jordan and bypassed Samaria. They did not want to risk defilement by being anywhere close to a Samaritan. To the Jews, a Samaritan was more revolting than a pagan Gentile. Sometimes, I believe when we hear the word Samaritan, our mind settles into the story of the Good Samaritan, and we forget how deep the hatred ran. The story of the Samaritans and how they came to be can be found in the book of 2 Kings. The king of Assyria captured the cities of Samaria and deported most of the Israelites to Assyria (2 Kings 17:6). The King of Assyria brought people from all the surrounding areas and settled them in place of the Israelites in the cities of Samaria. They brought their foreign gods with them, and together with the Jewish remnant that remained in Samaria, they created a religion for themselves that the Jews considered heresy. The Samaritans not only intermarried with the foreigners, but they defiled all Jewish customs and laws.  

But despite the ongoing feud, Jesus “had” to travel through Samaria. Why? Because He was in pursuit. He didn’t care about what people would say about Him taking the wrong road or talking to not only a Samaritan but a Samaritan woman of ill repute. He was on a mission, and she was His mission.  From the very beginning, God has pursued us. After Adam and Eve sinned, they did not run toward God; they ran away, hiding among the trees (Genesis 3:8). But God pursued them, calling out, “Where are you?” God’s passionate pursuit of us required Him to send His beloved Son to die in our place. And Jesus’s earthly mission was to seek and save that which is lost. He never gives up, even when we are stubborn and rebellious. His pursuit is relentless. And He continues to pursue us after we have trusted in Christ for salvation. He pursues a deeper commitment from us so that we may be conformed to the image of Christ. Jesus pursued a woman who was a hot mess in every way and made her kingdom worthy. There is no greater honor than being the object of the Lord God Almighty’s pursuit. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.

The picture is of the Sea of Galilee with the surrounding countryside. This would be Jesus’s destination when he went by way of Samaria.