Endless Love

by Katelynn Luera

I know life isn't always easy, especially while being a teenager. This is the age in life where temptation is at an all time high. It's the age when so many of our friends just simply back away from the church altogether. We all struggle, NOBODY is perfect (except for Jesus of course). Some of us have gone through that sinful life, but because of Jesus and the Holy Spirit we no longer live like that (or at least we give it our all to live like Jesus).

But then there are others of us that are hiding and secretly living that sinful life, not wanting anyone to know about it. But let me tell you something...Jesus knows. Sometimes young people put on this "mask" while they are at youth group or during Sunday service, but as soon as they walk out the church doors it's like Sin City all over again. If that's you today, let me encourage you to please repent.  Just simply say "God I'm struggling and I need you."  It's okay to need God, it's okay to struggle. Don't be ashamed of needing Him.  He already knows what we've been through, what we struggle with, and the secrets we think nobody knows about. In Him knowing you can give it all to Him.

Think back to the story we studied last night (the woman at the well).  Take a moment to re-read the text.

John 4:1-18

 Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John ² (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). ³ So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
⁴ He had to go through Samaria on the way. ⁵ Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. ⁶ Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. ⁷ Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” ⁸ He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.
⁹ The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”
¹⁰ Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
¹¹ “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? ¹² And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”
¹³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. ¹⁴ But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
¹⁵ “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”
¹⁶ “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.
¹⁷ “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.
Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— ¹⁸ for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”

What an incredible story!  But you know the most amazing thing about our God? He STILL forgives, and He STILL loves us. God's love is this unconditional kind of love that you can only seek from Him, it's the love that never fails. I know sometimes we may be weak, but our God is strong and mighty, and that is the God we serve. Don't HIDE FROM Him, rather RUN TO Him.  Be encouraged today!