God's Transformative Grace: Seeing and Being Seen

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Pursues Us in Our Brokenness

No matter how overlooked or unworthy we may feel, Jesus intentionally seeks us out, meeting us right where we are—even in the places others avoid. He crosses every barrier, cultural or personal, to encounter us in our ordinary routines and deepest needs. Just as He waited at the well for the Samaritan woman, He is already present in the places of our daily lives, initiating a relationship with us before we even think to seek Him. Jesus’ pursuit is not accidental; it is a divine appointment, a loving initiative that reminds us we are never invisible to God. [47:32]

John 4:4-9 (ESV)
And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

Reflection: Where in your daily routine might Jesus already be waiting to meet you, inviting you to notice His presence and respond to His pursuit today?

Day 2: Jesus Confronts Our Deepest Need with Grace

Jesus does not shy away from our pain, shame, or the messiness of our stories. Instead, He lovingly brings our hidden wounds and unmet needs into the light—not to condemn, but to restore. When He spoke to the Samaritan woman about her past, He did so with compassion, offering her the living water that brings true transformation. Jesus’ confrontation is always coupled with grace, giving us the opportunity to let Him address what we most deeply need and to experience His healing and restoration. [51:11]

John 4:13-18 (ESV)
Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”

Reflection: What is one area of shame or hurt you have been hiding from Jesus—can you invite Him to gently confront and heal it today?

Day 3: Jesus Reveals True Worship

True worship is not about a specific place, ritual, or tradition, but about encountering God through Jesus in spirit and in truth. Jesus teaches that worship flows from a heart transformed by knowing Him, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and aligned with His Word. He invites us to move beyond external forms and to center our worship on who He is—the Messiah who fulfills every longing and brings us into authentic relationship with God. [01:00:25]

John 4:19-26 (ESV)
The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

Reflection: In what ways can you re-center your worship today—not on a place or routine, but on Jesus Himself, responding to Him with your whole heart?

Day 4: Jesus Transforms Our Lives into Testimonies

When we encounter Jesus, He not only meets our needs but transforms our lives, giving us a new purpose and a story to share. The Samaritan woman left her water jar behind—symbolizing her old pursuits—and ran to tell others about the One who knew her completely and loved her still. Our transformed lives become powerful testimonies that invite others to “come and see” what Jesus has done. You don’t need all the answers; simply share how Jesus has met you and let His grace speak through your story. [01:04:01]

John 4:28-30, 39-42 (ESV)
So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him. … Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear your story of how Jesus has seen and transformed you—can you invite them to “come and see” today?

Day 5: See Others Through the Eyes of Christ

The grace that Jesus extends to us is meant to shape how we see and engage others. Just as Jesus looked past the Samaritan woman’s failures and labels, we are called to see people through His eyes—fully known, fully seen, and fully loved. Let the way Jesus has restored you move you to extend compassion, break down barriers, and invite others into the hope you have found. A transformed life is not just for ourselves, but for the sake of those around us. [01:06:50]

Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Reflection: Is there someone you tend to overlook or judge—how can you intentionally see and engage them with the same grace and compassion Jesus has shown you?

Sermon Summary

Today, we explored the profound truth that God is the One who truly sees us—fully, deeply, and compassionately. We began by reflecting on the story of Samuel Morris, a young Liberian boy whose life was marked by suffering, abandonment, and miraculous rescue. His journey from captivity to faith, and the ripple effect of his testimony, reminds us that God’s grace reaches the overlooked and the outcast, and that the impact of a life transformed by Christ can echo through generations.

Turning to John 4, we entered the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. This encounter is a masterclass in the movements of God’s grace. Jesus intentionally crosses cultural, ethnic, and religious boundaries to meet a woman who was marginalized and shamed by her community. He waits for her at the well—not by accident, but by divine appointment—demonstrating that God pursues us long before we ever think to seek Him.

In their conversation, Jesus confronts her with both gentleness and truth. He exposes her deepest wounds, not to condemn, but to offer restoration. The “living water” He offers is not a temporary fix, but a source of new, eternal life—a transformation that goes beyond mere survival to true renewal. Jesus reveals that true worship is not about location or ritual, but about a relationship with God in spirit and in truth, centered on Himself as the Messiah.

The woman’s response is remarkable. She leaves behind her water jar—symbolizing her old pursuits and shame—and runs to share her encounter with her community. Her testimony, not her status or knowledge, becomes the catalyst for many others to believe. This is the power of being fully known, fully seen, and fully loved by God: it compels us to invite others to “come and see” what Christ has done.

The same God who saw Hagar, Samuel Morris, and the Samaritan woman sees each of us. He pursues, confronts, reveals, and transforms. Our challenge is to let His grace shape how we see ourselves and others, and to boldly share our story, trusting that God can use even the most unlikely people to bring others to Himself.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Pursuit Precedes Our Search Long before we ever think to seek God, He is already waiting for us at our “well”—the ordinary places of our lives. Jesus steps into our routines, our brokenness, and our shame, initiating relationship and offering grace before we even know to ask. His pursuit is intentional, personal, and relentless. [47:32]
2. Grace Confronts, Not Condemns When Jesus exposes the Samaritan woman’s past, He does so not to shame her, but to heal her. True grace does not ignore our wounds or pretend they don’t exist; it names them so that restoration can begin. God’s confrontation is always coupled with compassion, inviting us to bring our hidden hurts into the light for healing. [56:05]
3. Living Water Transforms, Not Just Sustains The “living water” Jesus offers is not about temporary relief or religious routine—it is about total transformation. Many things in life can sustain us for a moment, but only Christ can create new life within us. The question is not just what keeps us going, but what is making us new. [53:31]
4. True Worship Is Centered on Christ, Not Place or Ritual Jesus redefines worship, moving it beyond sacred sites and external rituals to a living relationship with God. Worship in “spirit and truth” means our whole lives become a response to who Jesus is, empowered by the Holy Spirit and anchored in the truth of His Word. This shift calls us to examine what (or whom) our worship is truly centered on. [60:25]
5. A Transformed Life Is a Powerful Testimony The Samaritan woman’s story shows that God delights in using the unlikely and the overlooked. Her encounter with Jesus gave her a voice and a purpose, and her simple invitation—“come and see”—brought many to faith. Our own stories, marked by God’s grace, are often the most compelling witness to others, regardless of our background or credentials. [66:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Introduction & Student Worship
[02:30] - Samuel Morris: A Story of Rescue
[07:10] - The Ripple Effect of Testimony
[10:00] - Connecting Samuel Morris to the Samaritan Woman
[13:00] - Setting the Scene: John 4 and Samaria
[17:30] - Historical Tensions: Jews and Samaritans
[22:40] - Jesus’ Intentional Journey Through Samaria
[27:00] - The Well: A Place of Divine Encounter
[31:00] - Jesus Meets the Samaritan Woman
[36:00] - Jesus’ Pursuit and Initiative
[41:00] - The Offer of Living Water
[47:30] - Confronting Shame with Grace
[53:30] - Living Water: Transformation Over Sustenance
[57:00] - True Worship: Spirit and Truth
[62:23] - The Woman’s Transformation and Testimony
[66:50] - The Power of a Changed Life
[75:25] - Challenge: Who Needs to Hear “Come and See”?
[76:07] - Benediction and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 4:1-30, 39-42 (ESV) —
> Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
>
> A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” ...
>
> [Read the full passage: John 4:1-30, 39-42]

Observation Questions

What cultural and historical barriers existed between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, and how did Jesus respond to them? ([22:40])
What does Jesus mean when he offers the woman “living water”? How does the woman initially understand his offer? ([52:05])
What details in the story show that the Samaritan woman was an outcast in her community? ([55:19])
What does the woman do after her encounter with Jesus at the well? What is significant about her leaving her water jar behind? ([01:04:01])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus “had to pass through Samaria” even though most Jews avoided it? What does this say about God’s pursuit of people? ([22:40])
When Jesus brings up the woman’s past, how does he balance truth and grace? What does this reveal about how God deals with our wounds and shame? ([56:05])
Jesus says true worship is “in spirit and truth.” What does it mean for worship to be centered on Christ rather than a place or ritual? ([01:00:25])
The woman’s testimony leads many in her town to believe in Jesus. What does this suggest about the power of a changed life and sharing our story, even if we don’t have all the answers? ([01:06:50])

Application Questions

The sermon said, “Jesus is already waiting at your well.” What are some “ordinary places” in your life where you might be missing God’s pursuit of you? How can you become more aware of his presence in your daily routines? ([47:32])
Is there an area of your life where you feel shame or hurt that you’ve been hiding? What would it look like to let Jesus “name” that area so healing can begin? ([56:05])
The “living water” Jesus offers is about transformation, not just getting by. Are there things in your life that are only sustaining you but not making you new? What might it look like to let Jesus bring real change in those areas? ([53:31])
Jesus redefines worship as a relationship, not a ritual. Are there ways your worship has become more about routine or location than about Jesus himself? How can you re-center your worship this week? ([01:00:25])
The woman left her water jar behind, symbolizing her old pursuits and shame. Is there something you need to “leave behind” in order to fully follow Jesus? What is holding you back? ([01:04:01])
The woman’s simple invitation—“come and see”—brought many to faith. Who in your life needs to hear your story of what Jesus has done? What is one step you can take this week to share your story, even if it’s just inviting someone to “come and see”? ([01:06:50])
The sermon challenged us to let God’s grace shape how we see others, especially the overlooked or unlikely. Is there someone in your life you tend to overlook or avoid? How can you see them through the eyes of Christ this week? ([01:06:50])

Sermon Clips

Living water isn't about temporary relief. It's about total transformation. Jesus is providing an important contrast that we need to see and know. You see, Jacob, this patriarch, provided a well that sustained life. He built this well. He had this space. But Jesus provides a spring of living water that creates new life. [00:53:23] (23 seconds) #LivingWaterTransforms

Jesus names your shame so he can restore you. Jesus is not in the process of rejecting her, but restoring her. [00:56:08] (15 seconds) #JesusRestoresShame

A transformed life speaks louder than status or credentials. The Samaritan woman was the lowest of low yet her encounter with Jesus gave her a voice that could not be ignored. [01:06:32] (16 seconds) #GraceSavesAndSends

Let the way Jesus saw, knew and restored you shape how you see and engage others. The same grace that met you in your shame is the grace that compels you to look past people's failures, labels or status and says see them through the eyes of Christ. [01:06:56] (20 seconds) #GodPursuesAndTransforms

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