From Emptiness to Fulfillment - Stressing the Rails - August 4, 2022, Stressing the Rails with Dr. Michael W. Wesley Sr. - Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church with Dr. Michael W. Wesley Sr.

From Emptiness to Fulfillment - Stressing the Rails - August 4, 2022

August 04, 2022

DAILY DEVOTIONAL FROM PASTOR WESLEY August 4, 2022

From Emptiness to Fulfillment

We can turn to many things for fulfillment and purpose in life, but only Jesus will satisfy our soul.

There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, ``Give Me a drink." For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Therefore, the Samaritan woman said to Him, ``How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, ``If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, `Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." She said to Him, ``Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? ``You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?" Jesus answered and said to her, ``Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." The woman said to Him, ``Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw." He said to her, ``Go, call your husband and come here." The woman answered and said, ``I have no husband." Jesus said to her, ``You have correctly said, `I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly." John 4:5-18

What gives you a sense of fulfillment and purpose? Is it your family, job, hobbies, or relationships? None of these are wrong, but they can easily disappoint if you haven’t made the Lord your chief pursuit in life.

While Jesus was sitting by a well in the region of Samaria, He met a woman who was vainly seeking fulfillment. She’d been married five times, and most likely each broken relationship left her feeling more unloved than before.

As they talked, Jesus pinpointed her sin by revealing that she was now living with a man who was not her husband. He wasn’t being cruel but instead was helping her recognize that she needed a Savior. Every prior attempt to fill up her life had been futile, and now Jesus offered the only solution that truly fulfills: Himself. He offered to give her “living water,” which satisfies so completely that whoever drinks of it will never thirst again (John 4:10-14).

Do you ever feel like the Samaritan woman—dissatisfied with life and thirsty for love, purpose, or fulfillment? Surrender to Jesus Christ and allow His life and love to flow through you. Only then will you experience the fullness He promises.

Listen to Dr. Michael W. Wesley Sr. on OnePlace.com
Watch Dr. Michael W. Wesley Sr. on LightSource.com

Featured Offer

Sooo You Want To Be Married?

This is Dr. Michael Wesley, Sr.'s latest book on the subject of marriage. As a Pastor he has counseled many couples before, during, and after marriage so this has given him keen insight into the marital relationship. He himself has been married to the same woman for over 40 years so he has a wealth of knowledge on this subject. In this book Dr. Wesley covers that marriage comes from God, the keys to compatibility, the keys to staying in love, and even what to do if you feel you have married the wrong person. This is an excellent read if you are considering marriage in the future or even if you are currently married.

About Dr. Michael W. Wesley Sr.

Dr. Michael W. Wesley Sr. is a native of Birmingham, Alabama where he was educated in the public school system. He graduated from Tennessee State University, Nashville,Tennessee with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education. He received a Master’s Degree in Music Education; a Class A certification in School Principal ship and the Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. In addition, Dr. Wesley received a Bible Diploma and Bible Certification from Birmingham Baptist Bible College. He completed the Beeson Institute for Advanced Church Leadership Program from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. Dr. Wesley earned the Doctor of Ministry Degree from Louisiana Baptist University and Theological Seminary in Shreveport, Louisiana May 2006.

Dr. Wesley retired in 2003 after a brilliant 26-year career as an educator in the Birmingham Public Schools. He served as a teacher, assistant principal and principal of three different schools (Powderly Elementary; Arrington Middle and was the first African American principal of Woodlawn High School). He served on the Central Office staff as Extended Day Principal and Coordinator of Safe and Drug Free Schools.

Dr. Wesley is regularly sought after to speak in both schools and churches. He has had the privilege of speaking across the nation and in several foreign countries. His spiritual gifts of teaching and preaching are well documented. He is a member of many organizations. His civic and professional associations are too numerous to mention.

Most recent is the evidence of his leadership, occurred with the completion of a multimillion dollar edifice and education facility located in the heart of the West End community.

Dr. Wesley is currently the pastor of the Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in the West End community where he has given thirty years of service. He has a great love for people and for learning.

He is married to the former Venita Burkes, and is the father of two sons, Rev. Michael Wesley Jr. and James Edward, one grandson and two granddaughters.

Dr. Wesley is the author of three books, When God Changes A Church, Everybody Deserves A Good Funeral and Reaching the Unchurched_Pathway to Church Growth.

Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church

Dr. Michael W. Wesley Sr.