Living Free - Oct. 7, 2009
Improve Your Eyesight
Today's Scripture
"As you look around right now, wouldn't you say that in about four months it will be time to harvest? Well, I'm telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what's right in front of you. These Samaritan fields are ripe. It's harvest time!" John 4:35 MSG
Thoughts for Today
As we examine our lives for areas of prejudice, we should ask ourselves the ever popular question: "What would Jesus do?"
The description of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well—found in John 4—gives us a picture of Jesus' viewpoint and how he ministered freely with no prejudice.
In New Testament times, Jewish people did not associate with Samaritans because they regarded them as half-breeds—products of interracial marriages. Also, Jewish men did not carry on meaningful conversations or fellowship with women, who were regarded as inferior to men. And yet Jesus talked to this Samaritan woman without hesitation, sharing life-changing truths with her. He was concerned about HER and her need.
The result? The woman and many in her community came to know Jesus as their Messiah.
Consider this…
We need to learn to follow Jesus' example. To see every individual as someone God loves—not as a person of a certain race or background or reputation. Only as we learn to "get a good look at what's right in front of us"—to see through the eyes of Jesus—will we be free to minister to their needs and lead them to Jesus.
Lord, please give me your kind of eyesight so I can truly see what is right in front of me. To see the need and not the fault. To see someone you love and not an offensive person. To see someone you died for and not someone to avoid. And then I pray that your love and power will flow through me to minister to the need. In Jesus' name …
These thoughts were drawn from…
One Nation Under God: Toward Race Reconciliation by Donna Saunders, Ph.D. and Jean Leak, MS, RN. This study discusses barriers between people and shows how to make Christ visible through love in action. This guide also offers the way to strengthen and bond relationships. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.
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