By Andrew Williams
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Galatians 3:28
Good morning fellow disciples.
Our world is wonderfully diverse – a tapestry woven together with myriad cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds, and perspectives. And as followers of Jesus, we are called to not only celebrate this diversity, but to actively love and embrace those who are different from us.
This call to love the “other” is rooted in the very nature of God himself. The Scriptures reveal a Creator who delights in the stunning variety of his creation – from the multitude of languages at Pentecost (Acts 2) to the vision of every nation, tribe, and tongue worshiping before the throne (Revelation 7:9).
Indeed, the gospel message breaks down the dividing walls that separate us. As the Apostle Paul declares in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
And yet, the sad reality is that the church has not always lived up to this calling. Too often, we have allowed our human prejudices and biases to creep in, creating an “us vs. them” mentality that runs counter to the unifying vision of God’s kingdom.
But as we grow in our understanding and experience of God’s radical, boundary-crossing love, we are compelled to do the hard work of tearing down these dividing walls. It means stepping out of our comfortable monocultures, engaging with those who are different, and allowing our perspectives to be challenged, and to surrender to God’s will for us to all be His united children.
This kind of love is not easy. It requires humility, curiosity, and a willingness to be uncomfortable. But when we embrace the diversity of the body of Christ, we catch a glimpse of the beautiful tapestry that God is weaving – a tapestry that will one day encompass “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” (Revelation 7:9).
May the Spirit of God open our eyes to see the inherent worth and dignity in all people. And may our lives reflect the reconciling love of Jesus, who came to break down every barrier and unite us as one family under the banner of grace.
Prayer: Father God, we are your children. We may have different appearances, come from different stations in life, or speak different languages, but we become one when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior. Help us to love each other unconditionally because it’s by Your grace that we have all been adopted into Your family. Amen.