Many in this world seek to divide people into categories by race, by sex, by nationality, and even at times by the sin they choose to embrace as part of their personal identity. There are many ways for the world to divide itself because of the selfish and sinful nature of those who do the dividing…often for the purpose of their own personal gain. However scripture teaches us that there are only two kinds of people in this world. We are all made in God’s image no matter what the race or nationality or sex. We are either true followers of Christ or we are not… those are the only categories that matter ultimately.
28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
If we are one in Christ, then the other divisions don’t matter anymore. We should not think of someone first based on nationality, race, or sex but rather look only on them as to understand whether or not they are a true follower of Christ. This requires more than just saying “I am a Christian”, but rather should be evident in the submission of our lives to doing things God’s way rather than our own way or the way of the world.
For those who are our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, we should love one another and help one another in the example of Christ, Himself. We show ourselves to be friends of Jesus when we do what He commands us.
12“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14“You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
We should be devoted to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ and let not other “divisions” or “categorizations” separate us one against another. Yes there is a need to identify false teaching and rebuke wrong behavior, with gentleness and respect. At the very heart of it we love each other genuinely and without hypocrisy.
9Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
We show love to God by obeying His commands. There are many commands and instructions that are all worth studying and applying for each of us in our lives. However it is always good to start with the summary Jesus provided when asked about which command is most important.
34But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. 35One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, 36“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38“This is the great and foremost commandment. 39“The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40“On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
As you interact with people throughout your day, both in passing and in deeper relationships, reflect on how you deal with them. Do you see yourself as one with your brothers and sisters in Christ? or do you allow yourself to be divided based on others things like race, nationality, sex, or financial status? The distinction of one who is not a fellow believer is real and should be respected. How we interact with non believers is different from believers… though we can show love to all in an appropriate way.
The next challenge is to ask yourself as you go through your day… “Am I demonstrating my love for God and for my fellow followers of Christ through my actions and my attitudes?” Approach this challenge with humility and be willing to recognize when you are wrong so that you will more easily admit it and make the right course correction so that you do show love more fully and consistently. Prayerfully ask God to help you.
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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.