“I looked and there before me was a great multitude… from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. … And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God.’”

Revelation 7:9-10
I love my gardens for their beautiful diversity. The flowers are scattered like they are in nature: a mound of yellow coreopsis growing beside a tall spike of purple phlox, a red bee balm shooting up next to a white butterfly bush. The blending of color and texture brings me joy.

So what is it about “different” in society that sparks a negative chord in us? Why do we find it so hard to love other people’s differences? Instead of blending together in beautiful harmony, we poke and prod, heckle and hate, trample and torment, distrust and despise. If Jesus walked bodily among us today, would we stare at Him with distrust because He did not look just exactly like us? Jesus taught, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

Because our Creator designed us all in our unique ways, we can rejoice in (and even celebrate!) the differences between us. If we claim to love Jesus, we must love all of His people, too.



Scripture Focus

1 John 4:7-21

Insight

“To have been born in God’s thought and then made by God is the dearest, grandest, and most precious thing ever.” (C.S. Lewis, 1898-1963)

Bible In A Year

  • Judges 9
  • Psalm 113
  • 1 Corinthians 3-4

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