Monday; March 1

Tribalism … nationalism … racism. Have you noticed how many “isms” there are out there these days? The thing that makes these possible is the desire to set one group apart from others. Some of them have been condemned, while others are being viewed as something positive – interestingly the same “ism” may have very different assessments at the same time. As I was reflecting on these terms, I got to thinking about another quality, spiritualism. I am not talking about those who are viewed as being different because they worship “spirits”, but those who are different because they have accepted the Lord as the leader of their lives. While the world might be tempted to view themselves as superior because of something that makes them unique, the difference in spiritualism is that it has the potential to unite us all. The New Testament reminds us, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of the darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (I Peter 2:9-10). Being a distinctive people is a good thing when it is centered in the family of God and is open to all who are willing to live within His spiritual boundaries.
Let’s be wise in promoting what makes us unique. We should not allow how we look or where we live to divide us; rather we can commit to uniting under of a banner of how we live – as God’s holy people.

Think About It!

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