Similarities

In a week’s time I will fly, along with one of our other pastors, to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. There, he and I will spend time with our friends and fellow pastors as we provide training for them. Each time I travel to another part of our world, I enjoy observing the different landscapes and various styles of dress and décor. I try new-to-me food selections and talk with people who look different than me and speak languages I do not know. We live in a wonderful diverse world.

As diverse as we are, we are also the same in such an important way.

Genesis 1:27 (NIV)
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Each and every person is created by God in His image. We do well to remember that when we are tempted to belittle another’s taste in dress and/or décor, or to turn up our noses at the “strange” things “those people” eat. We do well to remember that when we see the world differently than others.

Into a world quite full of people who, on religious grounds, added “but” to statements such as “all people are created in the image of God” Jesus arrived and conquered the divide. Paul, the apostle, made sure people understood that truth.

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Galatians 3:26-28 (NIV)
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.

While we continue to eat, look, and speak differently, we – if we are in Christ – are one. Choose today to notice our similarities rather than our differences. Rejoice in the unity in diversity.

#ordinarylives