“There is neither Jew nor gentile, slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Galatians 3.28 (ESV)
We often see Jesus stepping toward people: he calls his disciples; he calls Zacheus down from the tree; he goes out of his way to have a conversation with a Samaritan woman.
In each of these cases, more than just one life is changed.
Think even of the man with the demons – the town is left in an uproar and the man told to stay there…
We are to always follow Jesus example, but we make excuses:
- I’m an A type personality;
- They’re a different colour the me;
- I’m an introvert;
- They have a disability, I feel awkward…
We often revel in those excuses – especially the personality defining ones: I’m just this way; God made me like this; He knows…
But everyone needs the gospel and we are going to come into situations (like Jesus) where it is difficult to engage with the individual because of differences.
There is no distinction in the Kingdom. Jesus put aside all social mores to speak to the Samaritan woman.
Just think: if you walk across the room toward that quiet person, battling to be a part of the conversation, you might affect a whole community.
Lord, please help us to follow your example and realise that our personality and other social constructs count for nothing when your word is at stake. Spirit give us the boldness needed to step up, step out, step toward those anyone and everyone – male, female, slave and free, ‘Greek’ and ‘Jew’… Father, may you be glorified and blessed through us and our sacrifice of our personality, comfort and time. We love you – Amen