Devotion
for Saturday August 17, 2019
Topic:
Use Your Christianity to Breaks Barriers
Text:
John 4:4 – 15
The
ancestors of the Samaritans were introduced into the land of Israel by the King
of Assyria, after he had led the ten tribes into captivity (2 Kings 17:24 –
41). When the Jews returned from captivity in Babylon and began to rebuild
their temple, the Samaritans asked for permission to build with them, and when
this was refused, an enmity arose between the two people which never died out
(Ezra 4:1 – 5; Nehemiah 2:10; 4:1 – 3).
There
was no familiarity nor friendship between Jews and Samaritans before Jesus came
into the world. However, this may not affect business as the disciples of Jesus
Christ had gone to buy food in the town. This woman of Samaria knew that Jesus
was a Jew. The antipathy between the Jews and Samaritans was so bitter that they
will never want to ask any hospitable rite. The woman’s reply is not a refusal
of the Jesus’ request anyway, but an expression of astonishment that a Jew
should ask a favour of a Samaritan. However, Jesus had come to set example for
us that Christianity should break barriers, build bridges and not walls.
Jesus
taught us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:24; Luke 6:27 and 35). Jesus did not
want to follow the status quo maintained by His people. He was distinct and
that is what He expects from us. A Christian shouldn’t join his/her family to
maintain enmity with another family.
Do
you use your Christianity to break barriers and mend fences? Do you seek for
avenues to reconcile people in enmity? This is what Christianity is all about;
making peace and reconciling people, and people with God (2 Corinthians 5:17 –
19 and Matthew 5:9).
Food for
Thought: 2
Corinthians 5:18
Memory verse: John 4:9
Prayer: Lord God, make me an
instrument of peace in my generation in Jesus name.
