Are they speaking truth?
Pretty sure “THEY” are NOT when in comes to racial divisions!
Recently, in a 10-day period, we went to a funeral, stayed in two major hotels, laughed and chatted on elevators with friendly strangers of many skin hues, attended a church where we knew no one, and had an engaging conversaions with people who did not look like us.
We walked the very colorful streets of Nashville, went to high and low-end restaurants where the tables were filled with racially mixed groups. We were surronded by families built of many different skin colors.
EVERYONE OF THESE circumstances were in cross-racial settings. NOT ONCE did we have an interaction where skin color was an issue.
The sermon we heard on our trip included the injunction to “love like Jesus did”, which was defined as LOVING ALL! The pastor speaking proclaimed, LET’S DON’T BUY THE HATE!
What does the Lord say about this?
For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility….that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. Ephesians 2:14-16
“…I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Revelation 7:9-12
Plant the Seed and Get Out of the Way
It’s warm—too warm! We’re hot and dusty and tired. The move is imminent. The house is rented. The good-byes are mostly said, and the to-do list is getting checked off:
Pack boxes
Give away the “extra” kitty who adopted us. Thanks, Michael Nichol.
Move Ike to John’s house.
Move Milka to Daniel’s house.
These dogs are 2 of 4 Lab siblings who moved around in our family. LOL! John (our son) ended up with all four of them in the end.
Soon, we would disconnect the power, the phone and be on our way to Atlanta. But, as we were slowing down from the day’s work the hang-on-the-wall phone rang. (Remember those?)
I (Linda) answer, “Hello.”
“Hello. Does Jim Cox live at this house?”
“Yes.”
“Did he ever work for Campus Crusade for Christ?”
“Yes.”
“In Peoria?”
“Yes.”
“May I please speak to him?”
“Sure. Just a moment.”
Who WAS this mysterious caller? It turns out that he had been a student at Bradley University in Peoria while we were there. We had never met him. However, at one of his fraternity meetings, he had heard one of Jim’s messages on a personal relationship with Christ!
At that sort of event, we would pass out response cards and ask the students to give us their opinions of what had been said and write any questions they’d like to ask. Finally, we’d ask them to put an “X “ somewhere on the card if they had invited Christ into their lives that day.
He did not turn in a card. Jim didn’t even meet him, but the message of God’s love and forgiveness was planted. Later, he did trust Christ. Now he was calling to thank Jim for being faithful to tell the story, and also to let him know that his life had changed forever. Today he is a minister in the Northeastern part of our country.
What does the Lord say about planting seeds?
You didn’t choose me, but I’ve chosen and commissioned you to go into the world to bear fruit. And your fruit will last, because whatever you ask of my Father, for my sake, He will give it to you!
- John 15:15 TPT