LOVE IS THE NEW COMMANDMENT (29)/ MATTERS OF LOVING INDIFFERENCE (11)/ LOVE DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE!

This Sunday service Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh preached another sermon in the series titled ‘Love is The New Commandment’. Her main scriptures were taken from the books of Romans 14:12-23; Acts 10:9-15; Jam 2:1-10;

THE AGAPE LOVE OF GOD

Love is the greatest word in the Bible. In Greek, there are three words for love. Eros refers to sexual love. Philio refers to friendly attachment. Agape means unconditional sacrificial love. In the New Testament, the word Love appears about 200 times, and it is almost always ‘agape’ love. This Love is not just a feeling. It is the highest, most pure form of love, born not out of natural attraction or obligation, but a willful choice and a command to be obeyed.  It is the unselfish, pure, powerful, and sacrificial love that desires the best in another person. This love is best expressed as the Fatherly Love of God for human beings. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16). This is the Gospel: God the Father sent God the Son to become a Man and die on behalf of sinners. The unbelievers may be religious, but they do not know this agape love. Love is a gift given only to the children of God, who are saved by grace and thru faith in Christ. This love saves and restores humanity in the face of sin and death. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (Jn15:13). Because we are born sinners, agape love does not come naturally to us. Agape love requires faithfulness, commitment, courage, strength, wisdom, faith, and sacrifice. Agape love is the magnet God uses to attract the world to Jesus! It was so in the early church, and during all the revivals in the history of the Church! To know the measure of Love you must know how much Love gives. Just think of this Love: God the Father gave us His only begotten Son, to save us! God the Son gave up His Live, His Blood, to pay for our sins! There is no greater Love than that!!!

“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (Jn 15:3). Faith in God’s Word cleanses your soul! Selah!

MATTERS OF LOVING INDIFFERENCE (Romans 14:1-23)

The Book of Romans is a masterpiece. It is considered the best Book in the Bible and the greatest piece of literature in the world. It is written by the great Apostle Paul. Many great men of God became born again by studying this Book. It contains the major doctrines of the Gospel. In the first 11 chapters, the Apostle writes about the doctrines of salvation. From chapter 12 to the end, he writes the application of these doctrines. The first two verses in chapter 12 are the basic scriptures on the application of doctrine. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom 12:1,2).  We see that the Christian life is a life of sacrifice for the sake of Christ, to give glory to God! By faith in God’s Word, our minds are renewed and transformed. From starting as ‘babies’ in Christ, we become strong in the faith. Becoming spiritually mature is the aim for every believer. Agape Love is the engine of this transformation. The New Law of Love takes over obedience of the Law as found in the Old Testament.

In chapters 14 and 15 we find the practical application of the Gospel especially in the relationships between believers. Theologians call these principles ‘matters of indifference’ or ‘grey areas’. These are important teachings, but they are not essential to our salvation. They apply to the type of food Christians eat, the mode of dressing, the type of entertainment, the types of baptism, the type of prophecies, the importance of days and how we celebrate our faith. The major doctrines of the Bible cannot be argued about.  As Christians, we all must agree on the major doctrines in the Bible, but we can lovingly disagree on these matters of indifference. If something is forbidden, it is sin. There is no need to discuss it. For example, the Bible says that adultery is sin. We cannot debate that. We now study things that are not clearly forbidden in God’s Word and our attitude to them. Over the years these things have bought much confusion, pain, and division in the Body. The church is made of many believers; some are spiritually strong, and others are spiritually weak in the faith. The first lesson we must learn is that the Body is One!!! The strong ones are commanded not to despise. Not to look down on the weak ones. The weak are commanded not to judge the spiritually strong. Lesson: Matters of indifference should never become central doctrines. Any form of division and segregation based on your Bible knowledge is wrong. We study these teachings so that we behave better, we love without quarreling or causing division in the Body. Selah!

These are three laws of agape Love:

1-NEVER BE A STUMBLING BLOCK TO ANYONE

2-NEVER REJECT FOOD- ALL FOOD IS CLEAN AND GOOD

3-NEVER DISCRIMINATE PEOPLE

1- LAW OF LOVE- NEVER BE A STMUMBLING BLOCK TO ANYONE

In Greek, the word ‘stumbling-block’ is ‘skandalon’. It means an offence, a hidden snare, a trap-stick to catch animals in the bush. The animal is unaware of the trap because it is covered with leaves and grass. There is a bait hanging there. The animal makes one step towards the bait and touches a stick that moves the trap. The animal is caught alive in the snare. Except a man comes to free it, the animal will be killed and eaten by the hunter. Spiritually, by falling into such a snare, the weak in the faith goes astray or backslides. This Greek word is the origin of the English word ‘scandal’. The word ‘stumbling-block’ has two meanings: the first, is an obstacle on the way, like a tree that fell on the road, and blocking it. The second meaning is deception that leads you away from the road of faithfulness and truth. Both these meanings manifest as ‘verbal traps’ to lure someone in an argument that will end in defeat and destruction. For example, a Lawyer starts an argument with an illiterate man. The lawyer is setting a trap, building a stronghold in the man’s path. The lawyer has no love for the man! Another example of evil is when a pastor starts an argument with a baby Christian. He wins it! Selah!!!

Stumbling blocks always delay the progress of a believer. The strong in the faith is warned not to use his freedom in becoming a wicked hindrance towards the weak. Knowing that we shall all be judged by Christ, we should be careful that we do not offend others with our words and deeds. Do not discourage, intimidate, or manipulate the weak to act in doubt, fear, or against his conscience. Lesson: Do not think only of yourself. Think of others and the effect your words and deeds have on them. As they say, ‘no man is an island’. No man lives or dies to himself. We are all God’s property, and He will judge all we say and do! Selah!

2. LAW OF LOVE – NEVER REJECT FOOD -ALL FOOD IS CLEAN AND GOOD  

“I know and am convinced [as one] in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean [ritually defiled, and unholy] in itself; but [nonetheless] it is unclean to anyone who thinks it is unclean” (Rom 14:14; AMP).

In the Old Testament, God told Moses that some animals are unholy or unclean. God forbade His people to eat them. These ceremonial Laws were given to the Jews, to keep them separated from the rest of the world. Since Abraham, the Jews have experienced many trials and tragedies. It is a miracle that they survived as a people. Most of them kept these ceremonial laws as a form of national survival. The present state of Israel is truly a miracle. But, when Christ died on the Cross, the veil of separation between Jew and Gentile was removed. All nations are now invited to come to Christ. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28). “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor 5:17). In Greek, the word ‘new’ means unused, virgin. The Church, the Body of Christ, is the new, ‘spiritual Israel’. The old ceremonial laws are no longer necessary to keep the Christians separate from other nations and cultures. If the nation of Israel is a miracle, then the birth and power of the Church is even a greater miracle! Glory to God!  

This is Paul’s revelation and doctrine: ‘nothing is unclean of itself’. The word ‘unclean’ means something common that is shared by all, profane, unholy, irreligious, showing no respect for God. Here, it refers to food, but it is a general the principle. In other words, to God, all things are clean. To be ‘unclean’ does not mean that the food is dirty or contaminated with microbes. This is a spiritual matter. The best example of an unclean animal is the pig (the swine). “The swine… is unclean to you. 8 Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. They are unclean to you” (Lev 11:7, 8). Another prohibition is against eating fish without scales (like the catfish). “Whatever in the water does not have fins or scales—that shall be an abomination to you” (Lev 11:12).  For thousands of years, both Judaism and Islam prohibit eating pork. The refusal to eat pork possesses powerful cultural baggage for Jews. Israel has legislated two related laws: the Pork Law in 1962, that bans the rearing and slaughter of pigs across the country, and the Meat Law of 1994, prohibiting all imports of nonkosher meats into Israel. Few Israeli pork-eaters certainly exist but the force of the taboo still remains powerful.

Jesus did not only die for our sins. He died to free men from ceremonial laws. The Law was a teacher, a tutor. The Law had no mercy. The function of the Law was not to save us, but to bring to faith in Christ. “But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (Gal 3:12-25). “For Christ is the end of the law [it leads to Him and its purpose is fulfilled in Him], for [granting] righteousness to everyone who believes [in Him as Savior]” (Rom 10:4; AMP). Therefore, the Christians are free from ceremonial laws. The Christian can eat everything, including pork meat and fish without scales. This is freedom indeed! But the moral Law found in the Ten Commandments still stands. Jesus said: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matt 5:17). To fulfill the Law, it means to obey it totally. Jesus did that on our behalf!

God is totally holy. “Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You cannot look favorably on wickedness” (Hab 1:13; AMP). In Christ, all things are made ‘new’. For the Christians, the law prohibiting eating pork meat is cancelled. In His sovereign will God declared the pig to be an unholy animal. God has the right to do so because He created all the animals. In the Garden of Eden, God set boundaries and told Adam not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil. There was nothing wrong with the tree or its fruit, but breaking God’s command is punished by death. The same God that in the past said that His people should not eat pork, He now says that we are free to eat it. It means that there is nothing bad about the pig itself but in His sovereign will, God separated this animal to be in the group called ‘unholy’. This law applied to the Jews in particular. The Jews who became saved were still afraid to eat pork meat. That is why, for a long time, they were weak in the faith. They needed to see for themselves the liberty we have in Christ. Paul says that none should force them to eat pork meat until they are convinced in their conscience that they are now free from that ceremonial law.

LESSONS ABOUT FOOD

To God, all food is clean. To believers, all food must be seen as clean. No food should be rejected for spiritual reasons. “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled” (Tit 1:15). Unbelievers are slaves to sin. Their consciences are defiled. Their thoughts, imaginations, plans for the future, choices, all these are corrupted and unclean. Unbelievers are filled with guilt, fear, shame, and doubts. Even if they eat the best diet, they still feel anxious. Faith in Jesus is the only ‘soap’ that cleanses the soul. The problem is not with the food. The problem is with us. There is no food that is unclean, clean, holier, or better than another. Any food a Christian wants to eat, he prays over it, and it is good to him. He should not feel guilty about eating it. “If one of the unbelievers invites you [to a meal at his home] and you want to go, eat whatever is served to you without asking questions [about its source] for the sake of your conscience” (1Cor 10:27; AMP). Food should not bring you into bondage.

But all Christians are not the same. Some are strong and others are weak in the faith. That is why they see food differently. Eating different types of food is a matter of indifference. We must all agree about the vital doctrines of salvation. There is no argument about that. But we can lovingly disagree about these matters of indifference. For example, some Christians drink alcohol or smoke cigars. If after you read the Bible and you pray, you still choose to drink alcohol, then good for you. I will not judge you. I will not say that because of drinking wine, you will go to hell. But if you choose to stop drinking alcohol, better for you. Thank God! But be careful here! The motive for stopping alcohol is also important. It is wrong to say that you have a new revelation, that wine is an unclean evil thing. That is an error. Alcohol is made from fruits that God has created. Or, if you stop smoking cigars, do not say that you did because the cigar is evil. God made the leaves of tabaco that contain nicotine. Don’t call alcohol or cigars spiritually unclean, cursed, evil, or poisoned by a witch. The truth is that no witch can change the quality of food or of any other item. If you believe that a witch can poison you spiritually thru food, that becomes a stronghold to you. It will hinder your spiritual progress. It means that you believe a lie and you submit to the authority of the witch. That decision brings you into bondage and does more damage to you than eating the food itself. What is then the right thing to say? The correct thing to say is that you stopped drinking alcohol or smoking cigars because God’s Word convicted you of sin. You want to avoid being a stumbling-block to those who are weak in the faith, and you want to show them love. You also can say that you stopped drinking and smoking for health reasons and to give glory to God. Motives matter to God! Selah!

THE BODY AND SEX ARE CLEAN

“The Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4.For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1Tim 4:1-5).

This is a great principle: Nothing is unclean in itself!!! Everything in this world is made by God, therefore it is clean! “God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good…” (Gen 1:31). This principle applies not only to food. It applies to all things. For example, God made the human body, and it was spiritually clean. Sin has done damage to the human body, but its reflexes and its desires are clean. For example, the appetite for food, the thirst for water, the desire for marriage and sex, these are part of the workings of the human body. God, and not the devil, placed them there. Some Christians regard all sexual activities as dirty, unclean, or sinful. That is why some Christians refuse to marry so that they will avoid sex. The Roman Catholic Church and other denominations, still think that living celibate is a higher form of sanctification. That is an error. It is a demonic deceiving doctrine claiming that the body is evil. God created sex. Now, the same God who created the body placed boundaries where sex should be practiced. According to God’s Law, sex is a gift given only to the married couples. Outside marriage, sex is sinful. Homosexual relationships are sinful. But sex on its own, is not sinful. The Christian husband and his wife do not need to feel ashamed about having sex. They should practice and enjoy sex, which is a unique expression of love to one another. In marriage, sex is clean. It is God’s gift to the couple. Give thanks to God for the gift of sex in your marriage! Amen!

PETER SEES HOW ALL ANIMALS ARE MADE CLEAN BY CHRIST (Ac 10:9-15)

Apostle Peter was told by the resurrected Christ to go to the house of Cornelius and preach the Gospel to him. At that time, no Jew could enter in the house of a Gentile. He sees all Gentiles as ‘unclean’. Peter was saved but he was still bound by Jewish laws. That is why he refused to obey Christ’ command. Peter saw a vision where unclean animals, according to the Old Testament, are all made clean by Christ. This vision changed Peter’s understanding of the Gospel forever. He now believed that Jesus Christ is Lord over all people. When Peter addressed Cornelius, he said to him: “You know that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with or befriend a Gentile, or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I am not to call anyone common or [ceremonially] unclean” (Ac10:28; AMP). Therefore, in Christ, the Blood of Jesus makes all believers spiritually clean. This is how Peter became known as the Apostle to the Gentiles. Peter understood that it was Christ who cleansed Cornelius by giving him faith in Him. Cornelius was very religious. But he became saved only after he believed the Gospel preached by Peter. He then got filled with the Holy Spirit. Lesson: being religious is not enough to go to heaven. God moves mountains and changes people, just to bring the Gospel to those who are the elect. This is Love! There are two types of ‘soaps’ that can cleanse the soul from sin: Faith in Christ and Love for Christ. These can be found only in God’s Word. Agape Love and Faith in Jesus purifies! Lesson: If God has commanded you to do a thing, do it! it cannot be wrong. It must be right! Fear not! Glory!

3. THE LAW OF LOVE – NEVER DISCRIMINATE PEOPLE

“The LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe” (Deu10:17). “God shows no partiality [no arbitrary favoritism; with Him one person is not more important than another]” (Ro2:11;AMP).

Peter said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Ac 10:34,35).  God told Samuel: “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1Sam 16:7).

“So, they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor. 21 Then they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth” (Lk 20:20,21). Even the enemies agreed that Jesus doesn’t discriminate.

DISCRIMINATION IS SEEING SOME PEOPLE AS UNCLEAN

Discrimination is a difficult topic to discuss. Discrimination is an unfair, unequal treatment, or an action that treats a person or a group of people badly for reasons such as their race, nationality, tribe, religion, color of skin, age, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Discrimination manifests as behavior. It is different from racism for example, which is a matter of the heart. Discrimination affects social benefits, education, housing, employment, the mental health, and general happiness of the victims. In a recent survey in the US, one third of the African Americans and 20% of Asians and Hispanics, said they have been discriminated because of their race, when looking for a job, waiting for promotion, or finding accommodation. There are laws against discrimination but often, the people break the laws.

These are some forms of discrimination:

*Nationality, tribalism – discriminated because of country, or tribe of their origin. They are mocked for their accent or form of dressing.

*Religious discrimination manifests as being treated unfairly because of religion. For example, some companies refuse to give time off on Fridays to Muslims or force Christians to work of Sundays. The unbelievers generally mock those who are religious.

*Age discrimination against old or young people. Some say that older people are getting weak and cannot do the job well. They tend to be proud and stubborn and don’t want to learn new skills at their jobs. Younger people are not taken seriously. They are paid less than others and are easily fired. This form of discrimination affects promotion and happiness at the working place.

*Pregnant women are also discriminated. Many companies refuse to hire them. Pregnant women or mothers of young children need more time to take care of their families. Many organizations see young women as liabilities. They are easily fired once they get pregnant. 

*Status as a parent. Single mothers (or fathers) are not promoted. Childless workers are expected to work longer hours.

*Disability discrimination: people who are chronically sick (diabetes, cancer, epilepsy etc), blind, deaf, and dumb, or using a wheelchair are rejected when looking for a job or when looking for an accommodation. These are seen as liabilities that hinder the progress. 

*Sexual harassment – generally, a male boss harasses a female worker with words, touches, or written notes. He promises to raise the salary, rewards, or promotion for sexual favors. This type of discrimination makes it difficult and uncomfortable to work there.

What do you do? If you discriminate, repent and change! If you are the victim, pray for wisdom and favor. Ask for help from others.

THE ROYAL LAW OF LOVE – NO DISCRIMINATION! (James 2:1-10)

This is a simple story. Two men enter the church. One is dressed in expensive clothes. The other one is dressed in rags. The church is full. There is only one empty chair. The ushers tell the rich man to sit on the chair and the poor man to stand or sit on the floor. This is called Discrimination or Favoritism. Lesson: As Christians we remember that God created all men, the rich and the poor. Salvation is by God’s Grace and thru faith in Jesus. The ground at the foot of the Cross is the same for all. To show favoritism it means that you deny the Gospel you preach. Favoritism is purely the way of the world. The world insults and discriminates the poor and the needy. True Christianity helps the poor and the needy. The worldly attitude should never enter the church of Christ.

The sin of favoritism is one of the most subtle sins. If you are not a victim, it is difficult to detect it. James does not tell us to discriminate against the rich. What he says is that all people should be honored and treated with respect. The rich should not be treated in a special way just because they have money. In God’s Kingdom fine clothes, gold rings and ‘fat’ bank accounts have no value. Jesus said that we should not be worried about food or clothes. Don’t be over-impressed with expensive clothes. Don’t worship those who have them. Showing favoritism is sin and sin leads to death. “if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” Discrimination kills relationships. It leads to loneliness and depression. Love is the Key to overcome this sin. Loving with Christ’ love means looking at others eye to eye. You do not look down on them and you do not look up to them, to worship them. To keep this horizontal gaze of love towards all men is a great achievement for a Christian and a sign of perfect love that drives away all fears.

Discriminating the poor can manifest in indirect subtle ways: The religiously loud, the jokers, are respected. The shy, the quiet, the dull, are discriminated against. The well-educated are respected. Those who are mentally slow, less educated, or the stammerers, are discriminated against.  The tall, fashionable, and beautiful are respected. The short, bald, fat, or the elderly, are discriminated against. Remember that the church is a family and not a club. The members of a family do not envy or discriminate one another but give proper respect and help to all. There is a great temptation to honor the rich because we expect some favor or money in return. James does not say that all poor people go to heaven and all rich people go to hell. He says that in general, the poor are more humble, and grace is given to them to be saved. He says that the rich may become proud and want you to worship them, but they will later forget you. Discrimination is harmful because it divides the church. The root of discrimination comes from a wrong concept of identity. People identify with a certain group and fight against anyone who is different than they. These are some reasons why we discriminate others: Inferiority complexes, ignorance of God’s will and weakness to stand for the truth. 

In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to judge all cases fairly and in the fear of God. “You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor” (Lev 19:15). Jesus said: “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mk 12:29-31). God discriminate among men but not in a sinful way. God choses some men to save them but not based on their appearance or wealth. Abraham, Joseph, Job, Joseph of Arimathea were all rich, both spiritually and physically. Most Christians are not rich. They are poor or of average wealth. People are not saved because they are poor or are lost because they are rich.

DISCRIMINATION IN NIGERIA

In Nigeria, there is discrimination against non-indigenes, foreigners, the poor, the albinos, those who have kyphosis (hunchback) or the mentally ill. People are discriminated based on their tribes or religion. Some tribes punish or kill those who claim to be witches. The families of these ‘witches’ suffer social stigma. There are cases of rape against women who have mental illness. Some look down on people with disabilities thinking that they are sub-human and can be used as sacrifice for rituals, in order to bring wealth or good fortune.

In the Igbo culture the women are seen as inferior to men. Because the bride price is high the husband becomes oppressive and violent against his wife, considering her as his property. Even the Law is on the side of the husbands and permits domestic violence. Section 55 (1) of the Nigerian Penal Code, permits wife chastisement as long as it does not cause grievous bodily harm. In the Igbo culture, the widows suffer socially, physically, and emotionally. They are seen as the chief suspects in the death of their husbands. They have to shave their hair, sit on the floor, and weep loudly at intervals. They are not allowed to leave the house to do business or to take care of their children. Some are forced to drink the water used to bath the corpse of their deceased husbands. Others have to pass thru some fetish rituals to prove that they were not involved in the death of their husbands. All these traumatic rituals apply only to the women. The widowers do not have to pass thru such awful things. Some widows are forced to marry the brother of the late husband. This gives the impression that a wife is like property, a part of the inheritance in a family. When a man dies, his house and landed property cannot be inherited by the wife. It is only the children that can inherit those. The widow can live in the house with the permission of her in-laws but that is subject to good behavior.  Boys are valued much higher than girls. They are trained to take over the family business. Until recently, the girls were not allowed to go to school. Their place was in the kitchen. The practice called Female Genital Mutilation is practiced in every state in Nigeria. It is a violent damage caused to the female outer sex organs. They claim that it reduces female promiscuity. This is a lie. It leads to infertility and emotional trauma. Many men are polygamous. Their wives suffer emotional and domestic abuse. 

HIS BRANCHES RUN OVER THE WALL

“Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (Jn 4:9).

The woman was surprised when Jesus asked for water from her. He was dressed as a Jew. The woman knew that the Jews have no dealings, nothing in common with the Samaritans. It is true that Jesus was tired and thirsty but even then, the woman was surprised at His request because the Jews do not even use the same cups the Samaritan use to drink water.

“Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough (vine) by a well; his branches run over the wall” (Gen 49:22).

The Jews discriminated the Gentiles. Jonah was ready to die than to preach to the Gentiles in the Nineveh. God told the Jews not to marry the Gentiles. But later the Jews married the Canaanites. They had to put them away.

Jesus is the fruitful vine by a well, whose branches run over the wall. When Jesus died, He abolished the wall of separation. Jesus goes over the wall to save you. After He saved you, He kicked the wall down! This is the new birth! Be born again!

FINALLY…

“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1Cor 1:26-29). Discrimination puts us in opposition to God! Real wealth is not in what we have but in who we are in Christ! If you love God, you will love all men, even the poor man who sits by you. In the local church, the royal law of love must apply. Who is my neighbor, some may ask? My neighbor is not just the one whose house is next to mine. He is the one who sits next to me in the church, the one the Holy Spirit brought to my attention. I cannot choose if my neighbor is poor or rich, educated or not, black, or white. Love does not discriminate. I must extend love to anyone that I classify as my neighbor. In the local church, we show respect to those who are in positions of leadership, or those who greatly contribute with time, effort, or wealth to God’s work. We honor the elderly. But there is no special treatment just because of wealth or social status. ‘He whose eye is filled with Christ does not see the type of coat a man puts on’ (C. Spurgeon). A local living Church should have all types of people, rich and poor, educated and those who are less educated. Let us not be known as dishonoring the poor. Worship the Lord!