Scripture: After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Luke 5:27-28 NIV "There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” ... Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” "... So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of His word" John 4:7-10; 40,41 NASB95 Application: It's so important for a Christian leader, and all followers, to not be prejudiced. Jesus saw beyond Levi's job, which was a tax collector. Tax collectors were hated in the Jewish community. But Jesus saw the potential in Levi. He chose him anyway. Levi made Jesus' ministry better. When Jesus walked the earth, Jews had nothing to do with Samaritans. But Jesus taught a better teaching, and made it a point to welcome a Samaritan woman to help Him build His ministry. Because of Jesus Christ's visible refusal to be prejudiced, many more came to know Him as Messiah and were blessed. Prejudice cripples our own potential by letting the small-minded surrounding community limit our ministries. We fail to expand our own talents and opportunities. We go against Jesus's teachings and examples. We can't be our best if we don't see people as God's people, and instead see them only as colors, ages, genders, nationalities, stereotypes, cultures, or occupations. Diversity makes us better servants of God. Prayer: Expose our prejudices against people and give us the outspoken boldness to resist our surroundings and upbringings that limit our service to You, dear Lord. Amen. Comments are closed.
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