We have all heard the story of the woman at the well. A Samaritan woman was at the well minding her own business gathering water. Jesus approached her and asked her for a drink. She scoffed back about how a Jewish man could ask a Samaritan woman for a drink because at the time Jewish people would not associate with Samaritans, but Jesus didn’t care about what the culture dictated, he cared about her as a person.
She went back to her town and spread the word about the Messiah and what he told her, and they asked him to stay, and he did for two more days sharing his message with others and during that time many more became believers. It’s amazing how a chance encounter during her daily chores not only changed her life but the life of so many people in her town.
It makes me think of how our culture affects the way we talk to people about Jesus. Drug and alcohol addicts are treated like modern day lepers who are pushed to the outside of the city away from society so we do not have to see them.
When Russia invaded the Ukraine thousands of people fled the country and became refugees looking for a safe place for their families to live. They were welcomed with open arms into several countries. 85% of Ukrainians are Christian, they look familiar and have familiar customs, so it was easy to welcome them. In 2022, over 40,000 refugees fled Pakistan but were not welcomed with open arms. Many Americans were upset about them being located in their communities because they looked different, dressed different, and had different customs.
Deuteronomy 10:19
And you are to love those who are foreigners,
for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt
Exodus 23:9
“Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.”
When we form opinions about people crossing the border or refugees from other countries, take a second and stop and think about how Jesus would want this situation handled. I do understand for safety reasons that a vetting system needs to be in place by our government and due process for those wanting to live here, but how are we treating people as a church when they are in our community and they don’t look like us or talk like us?
Jesus was not confined to tradition and culture, he loved everyone even if they didn’t love him. He broke through silly traditions and boundaries to show people God’s love, shouldn’t we do the same?
Tammy Bassett is a speaker and the author of the Mopping Up Your Blessings blog. She was born and raised a country girl who’s roots run deep in the mountains of Appalachia. She has worked a wide variety of jobs ranging from radio to insurance agent. She is now a stay-at-home mom, who along with her husband, are raising five daughters (ages 10 to 25), seven cats and one dog. She uses her accounting and business administration degree to help run her busy household.
She loves spending time with her family and homeschooling her two youngest children. She spends a lot of her day trying to conquer the obstacles in her home. With four of her children still living at home the laundry pile (nicknamed Mt. Wash-more) is her nemesis. Some days she wins and some days she doesn’t, but she always gets up the next day and tries again.
She also loves camping with her family as long as there is a camper with air conditioning, a comfy bed, and indoor plumbing. Her downfall is her obsession with iced coffee. Thankfully the closest Starbucks is an hour from her home, or she would be broke. She also loves reading and learning new skills such as homesteading, being more self-sustainable, gardening and foraging.
She relates the most to her favorite animal, the alpaca. They are both kind of weird and look like they are two months past due on a haircut. Much like alpacas she makes a gentle humming noise when happy and if irritated she often stamps the ground with her feet. Her husband has refused to buy her an alpaca much to her disappointment.
But more than anything, she loves the Lord and is growing more in her faith each day and hopes to inspire others to do the same. She wants everyone to understand that God’s grace is truly amazing and has changed her from the inside out and he can do the same for you.
by leaps and bounds 
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