Monday, June 4, 2018

Pastor's Ponderings, June 4, 2018

We Are In God’s Royal Family

The problem of race and ethnic divisions in America permeates much of our political, economic, and social discussions.  “And a new Pew Research poll reflects that, with a majority of Americans — 60 percent — saying that the election of Donald Trump has led to worse race relations in the United States.” Formerly rational people are now reduced to screaming their positions and producing “more heat than light” when they are in discussions about race and ethnic divisions.

While man spends an inordinate amount of time looking on outward appearances, ethic groups, or skin color, God looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).   When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, we became covered in Christ.  Those surface distinctions were incorporated under “you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:27-28).”   

Yes, there has been and continues to be hatred, ignorance, mistreatment and abuse. It comes from the place inside of us that has not been submitted to God. He instead would have us look to Him for our needs and not fight and quarrel with others (James 4:1, 2).   

Let us look to the future when those who love the Lord will all be gathered together in the New Heaven in our white robes washed in Jesus’ blood and praising God. We will not be discussing what divides us, but we will be focused on our Savior, Christ Jesus (Revelation 7:9, 10). Thank God, in spite of our divisions, we are His chosen people, His royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s special possession (1 Peter 2:9)!

1 Samuel 16:7 
New International Version (NIV)
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Galatians 3:27-28
New International Version (NIV)
27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

James 4:1, 2
New International Version (NIV)
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

Revelation 7:9, 10
New International Version (NIV)
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

1 Peter 2:9
New International Version (NIV)
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.






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