We tend to recognize courage showing itself in life or death matters, like Jesus' determining to go to Jerusalem, knowing that suffering and death awaited Him. What about His reaching across cultural barriers to give value and worth to the socially outcast? Do you think Jesus considered talking to the Samaritan woman courageous? Where is God calling you to live according to His values, not the world's standards?

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”… The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)—John 4:7-9

Prayer: God, living by Your values and according to Your purpose calls for courage. Permeate my heart and mind, so that living by Your values becomes second-nature to me. May I courageously choose to love like Jesus, in spite of the world's pressure to judge. In His name I pray, amen.

Written by Debbie Piper