My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. James 2:1-9
Jesus didn't care that Jews dont normally associate with Samaritans, or that Jewish men certainly didnt hang out with women who were not their wives. Jesus didn't play favorites. He still doesnt. God does not favor one race over another, one gender over another, one economic status over another.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28
The people of the town of Sychar thought the Samaritan woman was trash. She had been married (and likely divorced) five times, and was living with a man not her husband. Though common today, this was scandalous in that time. The woman was at the well drawing water at the hottest part of the day. Women usually drew water in the morning or evening because it was cool. This is like deciding to go for a run at noon in the summer when it is 90 degrees and sunny outside. Better to go in the morning when its 70 degrees and the sun isnt yet blazing.
The woman (we dont even know her name) was avoiding the others. They were probably terrible to her. Who knows why she had been with so many men. But the people of the town treated her terribly because of her life decisions.
She probably thought she was trash. A brazen woman who didnt care wouldnt not have avoided the others. A brazen woman would have drew water confidently in the cool of the day, and probably mocked the "righteous" women who were there at the same time. But this woman couldnt bear the mocking. She probably believed that she had no value, just like everyone said.
Something was different about this Jesus. He asked her for a drink. He talked to her. He didnt mock her. He didnt ridicule her. He just asked for a drink. And His intentions for her were so much more...
Its not that Jesus didnt know who she was. He asks her where her husband is, knowing full well that she had none. He wanted to let her know that He knew exactly who she was before He entrusted her with deep truth and used her in mighty ways to further His kingdom.
What holds you back? How do you see yourself? Unworthy to be used by God because of your past? your present? Do you think that God somehow doesnt see all that you do today, and have done in the past?
God has a plan for each of us, regardless where we have been, what we have done, who we are, and how other people view us.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
The Samaritan woman became an evangelist. Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him [Jesus] because of the woman's testimony... John 4:39 She who was was "trash" became Billy Graham.
Jesus doesnt play favorites. Arent you glad?
Love the blog! Keep posting!
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