My Local Samaria

"And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  Acts 1:8b

My heart gets convicted whenever I think of all of the places I avoid in an attempt to shelter my children from excessive exposure to the sin that is so prevalent in our society today.  In our little town, you don't have to go much further than the local shopping mall on payday weekend to get an earful or an eyeful of various behaviors that will make a good Christian girl shudder!

You see, that's the problem.  I'm not necessarily trying to shield my children.  I'm ashamed to say that I avoid those people and places because they make me feel uncomfortable. 

Should my exposure to people who don't act or look like me make me feel so uncomfortable that I bypass an opportunity to shed a little light into the dark places of the world?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

John tells us in his account of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well that Jews typically avoided and had no dealings with Samaritans (John 4:9b).  Jesus could have behaved like most other Jews and bypassed the region of Samaria altogether by crossing the Jordan river and making his journey north by traveling along the eastern side of the river.

But, if Jesus had chosen to do this . . . He would have missed an opportunity to minister to someone in need.

Oh, sort of like I do whenever I avoid harmless places because of the people that occupy them.

Jesus knew that by traveling through Samaria, He would be easily recognized as a Jew.  Because Jews felt that Samaritans were "unclean," all of the Samaritans He came in contact with would expect to be ignored and disregarded.

Unfortunately, I have a feeling that all of those people that I avoid at the mall probably assume from my demeanor that I am a Christian.  Their assumption likely comes from the way I stick my nose up at them and avoid eye contact with them at all costs. 

But, if I'm a Christian, doesn't that mean I should be behaving like Christ did?  Isn't He the ultimate example for us all?

Christ neither avoided the sinners, nor belittled them.  He forsook the status quo and went right through the middle of the city and even asked an immoral woman for a drink of water.

Beyond what Jesus was able to offer this woman (giving her Living Water that would provide eternal life through the forgiveness of her sins) the true beauty in this story comes when we see the greater effect of Jesus' journey through Samaria.  Because Jesus traveled through a city that was normally taboo for a Jew, and spoke with a woman who most men would have avoided, not only did Jesus change her life, but the lives of may more Samaritans.

"Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony."  John 4:39. 

How are we as followers of Christ ever going to make an impression on a lost world if we avoid them at all costs?

How are we ever going to see one life changed, which could bring about change to an entire community, if we fail to engage people by showing them that we care about their past and their future?

If you've acted like me and have avoided generally innocent places in the world because of the secular people who frequent them, please join me in repenting. 

Pray that God would open our eyes to the "Samaria's" that we avoid today.

Ask God to take you out of your comfort zone and into an environment where He would allow you to see great things accomplished in His name because of your obedience.

Will you forgive my sarcasm and allow me to be real for a moment? 

Those people who don't look quite like you . . . their piercings and tattoos won't magically jump off of their body and onto yours if you talk to them!  Their choice of inappropriate dress won't affect your conviction about modesty.  And their foul language can be made sweet by a loving Savior who can truly change them from the inside out.

We must take Jesus to the Samaritans of our world.

Will you?