One Body

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“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:14-16‬ 


Though this scripture is talking about the Jews and Gentiles, we can confidently assume it applies to all people. Since Christ came to save us all, we can apply this scripture to ourselves, though there are countless numbers of groups who divide themselves into separate categories. 


I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing to identify with a specific group of people, but when we allow our identities to divide us, it becomes a problem. Diversity is beautiful. Even diversity of thought can be a beautiful thing. We can learn so much from each other. If we practice responding instead of reacting, asking questions instead of accusing, seeking to understand others, rather than imposing our ideas on them, what a gorgeous tapestry of God’s most beloved creation we could be.


God created us to be equal. We all came from the same place and every one of us will return to dust. Asking for equality does not take anything away from anyone else, unless it’s power. That is something people will steal, kill, and destroy for (Sound familiar?) but creating equality can bring us closer to being the “one body” God intended us to be. 


When we withhold good from others, we are offending the very nature of our Creator.


This place is temporary, but what we do here can determine our eternity. How will we answer to our Creator when He asks why we said or did nothing when His people, when His creation, when His children were suffering? And I’m not only talking about people of color.


“If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength! Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24:10-12‬ ‭


I have work to do. So do you.

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