Editor’s Note:
All those brothers and sisters who sincerely believe in the Lord are eagerly looking forward to the return of the Lord Jesus. But how should we welcome the Lord’s return and obtain His salvation in the last days? I believe that from the story of the Samaritan woman we can find the answers.

Presumably many of us believers are familiar with the story of the Samaritan woman recorded in the Bible. When she drew water, she met the Lord Jesus, who asked her for a drink. From her exchange with the Lord Jesus, she recognized that He was the Messiah foretold in the prophecies.

She was just an ordinary woman and didn’t have much Bible knowledge, but she was able to do so. This is really amazing. All of us know that, within those three and a half years that the Lord Jesus worked on earth, many people once contacted Him for a short time, and moreover, there were many who heard Him speak. However, there were too few who were able to recognize that He was the Messiah. Then, how did the Samaritan woman do it? Was it because of the Lord Jesus’ special grace? Or was there any secret behind it? Let’s read her story to look for answers to these questions together.

By Chen Hui

Early one morning, I sat by the window reading the Bible: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2). This verse tells us to entertain strangers with love, I thought. Since they are strangers, they must be people whom we don’t know, yet the pastor often tells us not to receive strangers by quoting the scriptures, “I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ to another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6–7). He says that as our statures are too small and we cannot distinguish, we should never receive any stranger who preaches the gospel. Ah, what exactly is the Lord’s will? What should I do? Should I receive the strangers who preach the gospel or not?

By Baixue

Every brother and sister in the Lord who knows the Scriptures very well is familiar with Job’s trials. In Scripture it is written about him, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil” (Job 1:1). Then, on account of two accusations against Job Satan made before God, Jehovah said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only on himself put not forth your hand” (Job 1:12); “Behold, he is in your hand; but save his life” (Job 2:6). Then, trials came upon Job. In the trials of losing his property and children, as well as the trial of sore boils all over his body, his faith in God and reverence for Him were not shaken. What’s more, he still praised God and said, “Jehovah gave, and Jehovah has taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah” (Job 1:21) and “shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10). Ultimately, Job’s reverence for Jehovah God gained God’s approval and blessing, becoming an exemplar for later generations to emulate. Every time I read Job’s stories, I have great admiration for his perfect and upright humanity, and even more envy his reverence for God amid Satan’s malicious temptations and attacks. Nevertheless, what made me confused is: Since Job was so perfect and upright, and adored by people so much, why did God allow Satan to afflict him and subject him to such great trials?