Compassion: Lesson 2 | Day 4

“Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 4:10

Let’s be honest, it’s easier to be nice to some people than it is others. Right? Someone probably popped into your head the second you read that. Some people are mean. Some are difficult. Some are just unpleasant to be around. Sometimes it isn’t just individuals, it’s groups of people that we don’t want to be around or drive us crazy.

Read John 4:1-26.
Jesus took the shortest route in traveling from Judea to Galilee, however, really strict Jews would have taken a longer route to avoid going through Samaria. That’s how much they hated the Samaritans. They considered the Samaritans “half-breeds” and thought they would be defiled by passing through that region.

Think about that for a moment. Now think about how Jesus treated this woman. It wasn’t just soft and fluffy. That isn’t necessarily what compassion is all about. He chose to engage the woman in conversation, which was a huge deal at that time. But He also chose to talk to her about her sin and struggles. Ultimately, He pointed her to himself, which was the most compassionate thing He could have done for her.

It’s easy to show compassion to those we like. Think about the people you avoid. Think about the ones you don’t enjoy being around.

Think About This...

• Why do you avoid certain people?
• What makes it difficult to show them compassion?
• How can you be more Christ-like towards them?