I sat in church with my head bowed and eyes lowered. I’ve failed God so, I thought. He must be very disappointed. Then my pastor said, “Look into Jesus’ eyes. See how He looks at you, how He sees you.” So I did. And in that moment, I wore the Samaritan woman’s shoes . . .

I imagine the Samaritan woman in John 4 looking into Jesus’ eyes and thinking, There’s something different about this man. She thought she knew about men and their thoughts. But He was different. “Go and get your husband,” Jesus said. She hesitated, eyes lowered. “I don’t have a husband.” He nodded. “You’re right! . . . You have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now” (John 4:16-18).

Her body tensed. “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship?” (John 4:19-20). Her eyes flashed up to meet His, ready to tackle the awaiting judgment. Instead, the look on His face left her breathless. He said, “True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way” (John 4:23).

She heard, The Father is seeking you.

The woman’s subsequent joyous words still ring true: “He told me everything I ever did!” (John 4:39). God knows our past, and still He offers us a future. Chris Tomlin, in his song Jesus Loves Me, describes how Jesus loves us and is for us. We may wonder how this can be—but it’s true by His grace.

Jesus died on the cross so that we might receive real life from Him. Freely given, His love can’t be earned—only accepted in gratitude. Come meet the One who knows everything you’ve done, but still calls to you in love.

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Joshua 23:1-16