Crystal stares out the café window, wondering if life will ever improve. Five men, two kids, all by age 29. She’s lonely and wonders if man no. 6 will make things better.
Jesus walks through the café door and sits down at Crystal’s table. “I could really go for a coffee,” He says with a smile. “Uh, excuse me,” Crystal says, “do I know you?” “Not well,” Jesus says. Crystal gets up to leave. “Please stay,” Jesus says, “I’ll pay for the coffee.” “No thanks,” Crystal replies as she reluctantly sits down. She has nothing else to do. They sit silently for a few minutes.
“Maybe I will have another coffee,” Crystal says, reaching for her purse. “Need more caffeine, huh?” Jesus says. “Whatever gets you through the day. But the buzz always wear off, doesn’t it?” “So,” Crystal says, “is this what You do all day—sit and chat with women in coffee shops?” “Only the lonely ones,” Jesus replies. “What makes you think I’m lonely?” she asks. “Tell me about your husband.” “I don’t have a husband.”
“That’s right, Crystal,” Jesus says. “Five men, two kids, all by age 29.” “How do you know my name?” she says, astonished. “And how do you know about my life?” “Crystal, I’m offering you something greater than a caffeine buzz, or even the affections of man no. 6.” “What?” she says. “I’m offering you forgiveness.” “I don’t even know you,” Crystal says, “so why do I need your forgiveness? How can I hurt someone I’ve never known?”
“That’s right, Crystal. You’ve never known Me, the knower of your thoughts, the watcher of your deeds, the One who’s seen every silly, selfish, misguided decision you’ve ever made.”
“Who are you?” she asks softly. “I’m the One, Crystal. The One you’re really looking for.”
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 15:32–16:12
More:
Read John 10:10 and consider what Jesus offers to all who are thirsty for real life.
Next:
Imagine if Jesus met the “woman at the well” in your town today. What would the interaction look like? Where else do people look for a savior other than Jesus?
hisjoy on July 21, 2014 at 9:55 am
“I don’t even know you, “Crystal says, so why do I need your forgiveness? How can I hurt someone I have never known?
This devotional speaks to me of where Jesus finds us – so caught up in our own selfish deeds.
Yet even so, Jesus cares enough to reach out to us.
hisjoy on July 21, 2014 at 10:23 am
Jesus’s introduction to our lives in so epic:
That’s right Crystal. You’ve never known me, the knower of your thoughts, the watcher of your deeds, the one whose seen every silly, selfish misguided decision you’ve ever made.”
Such truth yet spoken in love.
Thank you for this devotional
Sheridan Voysey on July 23, 2014 at 5:13 am
He came full of ‘grace and truth’ (John 1:14), so his truth is always given in love, no matter how tough. Thanks hisjoy!
LCC on July 23, 2014 at 2:06 am
I like this piece of devotion. Good illustration. May the Lord continue to bless you, Sheridan in your writing, to reach out to more people in His reconciliation ministry (2 Cor 5 : 18-19). God bless!
Sheridan Voysey on July 23, 2014 at 5:13 am
Thanks LCC! God bless you too, in your life, work and service.
Winn Collier on July 30, 2014 at 3:23 pm
When I read this the first time, I though I read Jesus saying, “Only the lovely ones,” as if Jesus was telling the woman, in a gentle and poignant way, that she was lovely. After I read it again, I think that way still works. Thanks, Sheridan.