Acceptance ... because of Love, (...of Jesus)!

The Samaritan woman said to him [Jesus], 'You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?' (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans)."

(John 4:9)Being sensitive to people's needs Jesus knew that this woman had issues. 

He knew that her pressing need was for...... Loving Acceptance. 

......And that's what Jesus gave her before ever speaking of spiritual things.

For one thing she was a Samaritan and Jesus was a Jew. 

(In those times it wasn't socially acceptable for a Jew to speak to a Samaritan)  

She also had some personal issues that would make it look rather 'suspicious' for Jesus to be talking to her alone........... 

The fact that she came to the well alone in the heat of the day was saying that. 

Jesus knew the kind of woman she was and that she was lonely—and had been searching for love and acceptance in all the wrong ways and places. 

She had lived a colorful life and had had a 'few' men in her day. 

Because of this, -she wasn't accepted by the other 'fashionable' town women, so she came to the well alone in the middle of the day. 

The other 'respectable' women came in the cool of the evening to draw their water. 

It is said, -that with the 'lives we touch' we either build a bridge to that person, -or a wall between us. 

Jesus, being a great 'bridge builder', bridged the great 'social' gap between her and this stranger by simply asking, "Will you please give me a drink of water."

This was the beginning of an interesting (fascinating ? ), conversation...... 

Following a brief discussion about 'living water', Jesus put his finger on both the need & problem area of her life. Without judging her in any way Jesus told her that he knew she was living with a man who wasn't her husband and that she had already gone through five husbands.

"You have to be a prophet," she exclaimed and then turned the conversation to spiritual things herself. 

She then got so excited that she left her water-pot behind, rushed back to the town and, in essence, said to the men in her life,

 "Come with me. 

I want you to meet a man who told me all about myself with all my weaknesses & He accepted me just as I am. 

He didn't judge or criticize me. 

He must be the Christ."

Jesus knew this woman's deepest need—her need for acceptance—and when He met it, she believed in Him & automatically became a most enthusiastic 'witness'. 

That's the kind of witness we who call ourselves Christians also need to be. 

In other words, on most occasions before speaking of spiritual things to people, we need to be sensitive to their personal needs and "scratch them where they itch" just as Jesus did—and minister to their deepest need whatever it may be.....
Be sensitive to people's needs, and be 'as Jesus' to them by meeting them at their point of felt need. 

Them, seeing Jesus in me/you, will want 'you' (Jesus), for themselves.... !

Shalom .... & Maranatha.. !