Have you ever considered yourself not worthy of God’s acceptance? You might have figured that it will be better for you to just carry on the way you have been going as God would not want to have anything to do with you anyway, right?
Maybe these words will change your mind…
“… she told the people, “Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?” And they went out to see for themselves.” John 4:28-30 MSG
The words of a woman who have been married five times and the man she was living with at the time was not her husband. Society has casted her aside as they considered her immoral and full of sin, not worthy of their time and friendships. She accepted she was not good enough. She went to the well outside their village to fetch water during the time of day when no one else is there, to escape any further judgment. But then, she met a Man, who knew everything about her, inside and out and He still found her worthy of His time; to speak to and to offer her the best of Him—eternity. The perfect reason for her to be excited and run to all the people who previously judged her just to share the Good News, there is One who accepts her apart from her mistakes.
Her excitement did not come from finding another person who held her sin against her, but because she found Someone who did not.
The Bible does not say that Jesus approved of her sin; He did not, but that did not keep His love and His offer for her salvation from her. She could do nothing else than to share the Good News! There is One that knows EVERYTHING about her and He still finds her worthy. How awesome is that?
Her testimony of Jesus brought many people to believe in Him, not because of them being made aware of their mistakes, but by realising even with their mistakes, Jesus has time for them, accepts them and loves them.
“Many of the Samaritans from that village committed themselves to him because of the woman’s witness: “He knew all about the things I did. He knows me inside and out!” They asked him to stay on, so Jesus stayed two days. A lot more people entrusted their lives to him when they heard what he had to say. They said to the woman, “We’re no longer taking this on your say-so. We’ve heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. He’s the Saviour of the world!”” John 4:39-42 MSG
The woman at the well did not change her way of life by being reminded of her mistakes, but by being accepted by Jesus, in spite of her mistakes.
I believe that the knowing of I am not perfect, but I remain accepted by Jesus, the Saviour of the world, gives me all the reason to want to be more and more like Him.
Imagine the difference we could make if we were to follow in His footsteps and love others, apart from their mistakes, so that His love can touch their lives as we continue to share the Good News of what He has done for us.