- Do you consider every person as an equal?
- Are all people on equal standing with you?
These are simple questions that call for us to stop and think. Far too often we simply throw out a quick, “Yes, I hold all people equal” and go about our day.
Unfortunately, most everyone is lying in their response.
Let’s test your response. Who do you treat better: your supervisor or the new guy? Would you be more likely to help: a man in a suit or a man in jeans and a biker vest with lots of tattoos?
One day a lady walked into a local convenience store to buy some bread and milk for her family. She was followed into the store by four tough looking guys dressed in local gang colors. They were dirty and loud, they frightened the lady greatly, she was afraid the store was about to be robbed. These men picked up some beer and cigarettes and went to the check out, just ahead of this poor frightened woman. Then four well dressed men walked in and picked up a gallon of milk and some cookies and got in line behind her.
The four hoods checked out and left the store, the lady commented to the four well dressed men that she was glad they were gone. “We are too!” the men said as they pulled out their weapons, “now give me your purse!”
Remember the old saying: “You can’t tell a book by its cover?” It is true. Why, then, do we tend to believe that everyone is the way we see them?
Who can say that a homeless man is not a better person than the one who lives in a mansion?
Here is a dose of reality: everyone makes mistakes.
You have gotten in trouble at school, at home or at work. You have also gotten in trouble with God. We call that sin.
You have broken the Ten Commandments. You have told a lie, even a “little one.” You have stolen a pen, a toy or a quarter. You have talked back to your parents or been greedy. You have sinned, and these are only four of God’s top ten.
There is no person who does the right thing all of the time. In all of humanities history there has only been One man who never sinned, Jesus the Son of God, and you saw what the politicians did to Him!
Acceptance. How can we who are prone to mistakes, we who are sinners, ever hope to be accepted by God who is perfect?
How willing would you be to accept someone who talks bad about you, lies about you or spits on you? Would you be willing to love someone who either ignores you or abuses you? How can someone love anyone who treats them worse than dirt?
Love. Absolute, undeniable love. A love that forgives when asked in repentant brokenness. A love that is willing to “go the extra mile” for you. A love that is willing to sacrifice everything for you.
This is how God loves you.
John 3:16-17: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.”
When you believe in His Son, God accepts you. No matter where you are from, what you look like or what you have done. Accepted.
If God is willing to accept us after all we have done, you should be willing to accept others.
Romans 15:7: “So accept each other just as Christ has accepted you; then God will be glorified.” NLT
The next time you see someone and you think they are either less than or better than you, remember that God loves everyone, equally! Jesus gave His life for everyone who would believe.
Jesus accepts the clerk at the store, the dirty bum on the corner and the rich politician.
Remember that Jesus loves you!...and so do I.
By: Pastor Bob Alderman
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