"So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." - Acts 10:34-35
What is it that defines you. Since my writings are about God, Salvation and Faith, you might want to fall back on that without thinking about it. "Oh - I am a Christian." And well you might be. But what is it that determines how you see the world - how you see other people - what you embrace? That makes you - you.
For some it is where they live. For others, it is what they possess. For some, it is their ethnic heritage. Most of us need to identify with other people. "Birds of a feather flock together." We are living in an RV while we serve in Florida. The RV is parked in a field that is part of a church property. We are next to a pond - the home of a young alligator. Lots of birds and other critters. There is a hawk that has this area staked out as its hunting grounds. The thing is, there are other birds - with families I suppose - that don't like the hawk hanging out near their nests. So they swoop and peck at the hawk who seems undisturbed by their persistence. My point - they don't get along - they are not birds of a common feather.
People are like that. They have an identity and prefer to be around others that have the same identity. Social class, ethnic heritage, regional affiliation. Identity is important. It makes us feel safe and comfortable. But as Christians there is something else that defines us. Those things which were so important before are no longer - or should not be. Something new defines us.
"From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" - 2 Corinthians 5:16-18
That means that all of those other characteristics about our natural lives have lost their significance - have been set aside. We no longer regard others based upon natural distinctions - but one supernatural distinction - that we have been born again - by faith.
"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
In your mind - you might agree - but does that agreement translate into how you actually relate to other people - let's narrow it down - how you relate to other Christians. Do you still identify with people the same way as before you yielded your life to Jesus? Being a Christian is not just how you relate to God - but how you relate to man. Do you remember what Jesus said are the 2 greatest commandments - in which the entire law is summed? Matthew 22:37-39 - Love God and Love others.
"If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen." - 1 John 4:20
There is much more that I could write about this - but I will leave it with this verse.
"By this all people will know that you are my [Jesus'] disciples, if you have love for one another.” - John 13:35
When I spoke at churches in Haiti, the first time I would begin by saying, “mwen pa blan, mwen fre nou” – “I am not white – I am your brother” I was hoping that they could or would see that. To get past the color of my skin. What is it that keeps you from embracing other Christians?
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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