A Devotion May Be Someone's Only Bible

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Pen Full of Ink

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So, when the Samaritans came to Him, they urged Him to stay with them, and He stayed two days. And because of his words, many more became believers.  John 4:39-41 NIV

pen full of inkIn frustration, I threw the ink pen in the trash can.

Sitting in my favorite coffee shop and writing in my spiritual journal is a frequent habit. But one day, the ink pen, still full of ink, refused to write. “What good is a pen full of ink that won’t write?” I muttered as the pen clattered through the lid of the trash can.

The sting of conviction was immediate. I was the pen full of ink that wouldn’t write.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I am filled with the Holy Spirit, always ready to share my hope and write the love of God into the world. However, my self-doubt, insecurity, and anxiety often convince me I have nothing meaningful to say or that what I have to say will be dismissed. As a result, I keep my thoughts to myself.

In a well-known passage in John’s gospel, we read the story of the woman at the well. So many wonderful things are happening with this woman from Samaria as she draws water. She was at the well at noon, likely to avoid the village's other women. A stranger asks her for water in a culture where Israelites didn’t speak to Samaritans and men didn’t speak to women.

When she understood she had spoken to the Messiah, she immediately put down her water jar and went to the people of her village. She told her story and invited them to meet the man who was the Messiah.

 The Samaritan woman’s fears, insecurities, and bad reputation didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she had an encounter with the living Lord and told others about it. Because of her testimony, others were motivated to seek Jesus.

As believers, we all have a similar story, whether we speak or write it. Find ways to tell your story to others so that others may know Jesus.

(Photo courtesy of pixabay and Sponchia.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)


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Traci Bowland

Traci holds a BA in Biblical Studies from Regent University and MA in Biblical Exposition from Liberty University. She lives in Southwest Missouri with her two pups, Sugar and Lulu.