IN CHRIST
Daphne Powell
Today's Scripture: “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29, NIV
Theme: Jesus loves us all.
MIRACLES
In each of His miracles, Jesus showed His love for all. He didn’t discriminate based on race, religion, or gender. He healed sinners and religious people alike. He LOVED. And His miracles are an example of how we should show love for others. When I see someone in need, I am called to love and provide for them because Jesus loves and provides for me.
So many times, people qualify their reason for not giving by judging others. When you look at someone and you hold back on loving them because they are different than you, that is not love. It is not Jesus’ way. That is not the example Jesus set.
COMMANDMENTS
As I was growing up, I remember wondering how I (we!) could follow all ten of the commandments? I concerned myself with what they were instead of what they meant. Yet when you look at the commandments, they are about relationships: relating to God and relating to others. They do not specify Jews, Gentiles, slave, free, male, or female and say, “This is exclusively for you.” Though they were first given to the Jews, the commandments are for all of us, as in God’s eyes we are all His children and all to follow and obey the Ten Commandments.
CHANGE FOR THE BETTER
In “Hidden Figures,” when Katherine’s boss, Al Harrison, found out about the trials she was having because some people deemed them different and less than, he put a stop to it. He made a change that gave them more freedom. When Jesus came out of that grave, He made a way for all people. He came to set us all free from sin and death. Just as the Commandments are for us all, the Resurrection is for us all. We are all His children, and He loves us all.
NEIGHBORS
Now, Jesus’ most important commandment is that we love others. “Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” John 13:34-35 (NLT)
When I turn on the news, the least likely thing I’ll see is love; the thing I hope to see--but don’t--is love for our neighbors. In the bathroom scene of “Hidden Figures,” we can see that the woman confused tolerance with true belonging. I know what it feels like to feel unwelcome. There is a difference between putting up with someone and really loving them. We see bumper stickers with their peace signs and a cause, or prayer hands alongside a political affiliation sticker, and we wonder how we have missed His Word. Promoting peace and praying, without love, is just noise, a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1).
Make It Personal: Many people will say they love their neighbor, but “your neighbor” does not just mean the people in the neighborhood you chose to live in. Your neighbor is whomever you meet, everyone and anyone. Your neighbor is not just your same race, your same religion, your same political party, and in your same tax bracket. The way we show non-believers who Jesus is, is by being an example of how He loved: completely and without discrimination.
Pray: Father, help me to truly follow Your commands, both the original “Ten Commandments” and the “New Commandment” to love my neighbor as myself. Help me to look beyond the differences to see how You have made us so alike and how You love us exactly the same. In Your Name I pray.
Read: Mark 12:30-31:1 Corinthians 13; John 13:34-35, Philippians 2:4
Weekly Memory Verse: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9 (NIV)