One of the wonderful things about the gospel is that God calls, saves, and uses ordinary people to help fulfill his purposes here on earth.

The culture of Jesus’ day was vastly different from ours except, perhaps, for racism. On one occasion when Jesus wanted to reach a Samaritan village with his message of salvation, he stopped by a well and made friends with a Samaritan woman. This definitely was not kosher for a Jew because the Jews looked down their noses at the Samaritans and had no dealings with them.

Not so Jesus. After asking this woman for a drink of water and conversing in some seemingly small talk, he directed the conversation to spiritual matters. Not only was this woman a Samaritan but one who had led a very colorful life. Jesus knew exactly what type of person she was. She was a social outcast which was obvious by the fact that she was drawing water from the well in the middle of the day. All the other women from the village did so in the cool of the evening.

After the introductory small talk, Jesus said to the lady, “Go and get your husband and come back with him.”

“I don’t have a husband,” she replied.

“I know,” Jesus said, “you’ve already had five and the man you are now with is not your husband!”

That would be quite a reputation even today, let alone in that society.

And yet, this was the woman that Jesus chose to be the messenger to carry the gospel to her village—which she did; and the people there came to see and hear Jesus for themselves.

Jesus, who upheld impeccable moral standards and high ideals regarding marriage, wasn’t shocked by this woman’s lifestyle. He saw beyond the externals and looked at her heart. Here was a woman who needed salvation and healing and was willing to admit her failures.

Neither is God shocked with you or me when we admit our sins and faults and bring them to him for his forgiveness, and when we acknowledge our brokenness and come to him for healing. And when we do this, he won’t worry about our past when it comes to using us as his witnesses.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you are not a ‘respecter of persons’ and that whoever comes to you, no matter what they have ever done or have failed to do, you will love, accept, and forgive them, and use them to be living witnesses of your saving grace and power. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Note: For help see “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

1. John 4:29 (NIV).