Love like Jesus

John 4:27-30 (NLT)
27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” 28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

Jesus had been sitting by a well when a Samaritan woman approached. Jesus had asked her for water and as she started to question Him He started revealing things about her life. The disciples were shocked Jesus would be talking to a woman, much less a Samaritan woman, but none were about to question his authority. The woman then ran to the village to tell everyone to come see who she believed was the Messiah for Jesus knew everything about her and everything she ever did.

If you want to make a bet that is a sure winner, you can bet there are people who enter into the sanctuary of a church every day and never reveal any issues, sins, or problems in their life. People are afraid to admit their problems because of a fear of rejection. Yet we see Jesus did not reject this woman. Instead He talked with her when no one else would. Jesus listened to her and then pointed out the problem areas of her life. But Jesus did not condemn her instead He was trying to heal her from the sin she had been suffering through. Our churches need to be a refuge for people who have sin in their lives and need a place to remove it. As Christians we need to be open to everyone ready to listen, ready to comfort, ready to restore those who have fallen into sin. Yet I’m afraid to say too often we are ready to push away and criticize those in sin. Ask the Lord to give you a compassion heart such as His own so that you may love people the way He did. Love those in sin in order that they might see the hope of salvation, mercy and forgiveness. For salvation starts with justification by Jesus, followed by sanctification as we allow Jesus to work in our lives and glorification when we finally are united with Jesus in heaven.