stephen R Harrison

The gospel is for everyone! Jesus told us in Acts 1:8 to share it with those like us and not like us. All those who heard Jesus that day were all the same ethnically and culturally – local Jews. Jesus didn’t want the gospel for just a few, but for all! The love and good news of the gospel can’t just stay with those like you. Who is your “Samaritan”? We all have people not like us that we know and with whom we are responsible for befriending and sharing the gospel and life.

As a Jew, Jesus didn’t bypass the Samaritans and just stick with His own. Jesus healed a Samaritan leper (Luke 17:16), preached to the Samaritans (John 4:40-42), honored a Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37), and befriended the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). He even rebuked his disciples when they asked to call down fire from heaven and destroy the Samaritans (Luke 9:54-55). Jesus loved the people of Samaria and desired them to be saved and loved. He illustrated true Christian love does not separate because of race. We are all equal at the foot of the cross.

Christians are sometimes good with engaging those like us (our Jerusalem). We are even good with engaging those not like us but far away (in world mission around the world). But what about the middle groups mentioned in Acts 1:8, those near you that are not like you? We are called by Jesus Himself (Acts 1:8) to engage and reach them for Him. Not just out of obedience (got to), but willingness (get to). The world is bigger than my circle. It’s also closer. There are at least 127 different people groups in Arkansas!

See the world around you like Jesus.
Engage the world around you like Jesus.
Love the world around you like Jesus.
Be like Jesus!