The Daily Blade: Episode #149 - Joby Martin on "What's Your 'Have To' Moment?"
Release Date: July 28, 2025
Introduction
In Episode #149 of The Daily Blade, hosts Pastor Joby Martin of the Church of Eleven22 and Kyle Thompson of Undaunted.Life delve deep into the biblical narrative of John chapter four, focusing on the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. This episode, titled "What's Your 'Have To' Moment?", challenges listeners to identify and act upon the divine callings in their lives, even when such actions defy societal norms or require significant personal courage.
Contextualizing Jesus' Journey Through Samaria
Kyle Thompson begins the discussion by setting the stage in John 4:1-3, highlighting the geopolitical and cultural tensions between Jews and Samaritans. He points out that, contrary to the common practice of avoiding Samaria to bypass potential conflicts, Jesus deliberately passes through Samaria.
"So Jesus had to pass through Samaria... Why did Jesus have to? Well, the reason that Jesus felt like he had to and the reason that he did is because he had a divine appointment with this Samaritan woman."
(04:10, Kyle Thompson)
This intentional route underscores Jesus' mission to bridge divides and engage with those marginalized or ostracized by mainstream society.
Divine Appointment and Obedience to the Father
Joby Martin emphasizes the importance of divine appointments in a believer's life, drawing from John 5:19 to illustrate Jesus' unwavering obedience to the Father's will.
"Jesus just did not have a category in his mind where he would disobey the Father."
(03:50, Joby Martin)
He challenges listeners to reflect on their own lives: What tasks or missions is God assigning to you that may require stepping out of comfort zones or societal expectations?
Identifying Your "Have To" Moment
Transitioning from the biblical narrative to practical application, Joby Martin encourages men to discern their unique callings from God. He outlines several universal directives that God places on every believer:
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Making Disciples:
"He is telling you to make disciples. This is the core of the Great Commission. And so if you are not making disciples, then you're not being a follower of Jesus."
(02:45, Joby Martin) -
Forgiveness:
"He is telling you to forgive those who've forgiven you, forgive people."
(03:00, Joby Martin) -
Abstaining from Sin:
"He is telling you to put away sin."
(03:05, Joby Martin) -
Generosity:
"He is telling you to be generous with your money."
(03:10, Joby Martin)
While these are foundational, Joby urges listeners to seek specific callings God may have for their individual lives.
Steps to Discovering Your Calling
Kyle Thompson and Joby Martin outline a practical approach to uncovering personal divine directives:
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Prayer:
"I would highly encourage you to pray."
(04:40, Joby Martin) -
Scriptural Engagement:
"This is why we do the Daily Blade. This is why it's not enough for you to listen to me and Kyle and our friends talk to you about the Bible, that you need to read it yourself and do what it says."
(04:50, Joby Martin) -
Faithful Obedience:
"The more that you are trustworthy and faithful with the general principles of the scriptures... then maybe God will trust you with more and more and more specifics about your own life."
(05:00, Joby Martin)
He cites John 2:5, referencing Mary's instruction to the servants at the wedding at Cana:
"Do whatever he tells you to do. So what is it that he is telling you to do?"
(05:10, Joby Martin)
This underscores the importance of obedience to God's directives, regardless of their nature or the challenges they may present.
Overcoming Hesitation and Taking Action
To illustrate the urgency and importance of acting upon one's calling, Joby shares a poignant question posed by his mentor, Doug Fields:
"If you could do anything for the glory of God and you knew it wouldn't fail, what would that be?"
(04:55, Joby Martin)
He follows up with a compelling challenge:
"And the moment you have that answer, the next question is then why aren't you doing it?"
(05:00, Joby Martin)
This rhetorical approach is designed to provoke introspection and motivate immediate action towards fulfilling one's divine purpose.
Conclusion
Episode #149 of The Daily Blade serves as both a spiritual exploration and a practical guide for believers seeking to align their lives with God's will. Through the lens of Jesus' intentional journey into Samaria and the encounter at Jacob's well, Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson inspire listeners to identify and act upon their "Have To" moments—those critical junctures where obedience to God calls for courage, sacrifice, and unwavering faith.
Notable Quotes
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"I had to go through Samaria because my Father had an appointment for me in Samaria."
— Joby Martin at 03:30 -
"Do whatever it is that the Lord has told you to do. As followers, we have to do that thing."
— Joby Martin at 05:15
Final Thoughts
For those seeking to deepen their understanding of applying biblical principles to everyday life, this episode offers both theological insight and actionable steps. By emphasizing personal responsibility and divine guidance, The Daily Blade continues its mission to equip Christians for spiritual warfare and everyday challenges.
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