PURSUE Knowledge and Understanding

READY

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." -- Proverbs 3:5-6

SET

“What are you looking for?” Jesus asked in John 1:38.

April 9, 2019, was the morning after the UVA Men’s Basketball team won our first NCAA Championship. My phone immediately filled up with calls and messages from family and friends, many of whom I hadn’t heard from for some time. Hearts were rejoicing, and it was easy to see why.

Just 12 months later my phone filled up again. This time calls from friends, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, calling to check on me as the nation erupted in riots and violence behind the brutal deaths of numerous people of color. It was easy for me to understand the calls a year prior. It wasn’t so clear why they were calling me now to tell me their hearts were broken.

I am black, they are not. I have seen this pain and inequality my whole life. For most of my callers, it was new. I thought by now everyone in America was aware of who Dr. King was, what he stood for and what he endured in pursuit of justice for people of African descent in America. Dr. King wanted the people of America to understand that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Yet, my callers spoke to me from a place of heartbreak, surprised to realize that the systemic injustice perpetrated on masses of people of color still exists in America and elsewhere. Call after call, they asked me what they could do, and my response was consistently, “Go to God. Ask Him to give understanding of the problem you most want to be corrected.”

Sports teams many times are comprised of coaches and athletes of different skin colors and ethnicities. In an effort to be the best team they can be in competition, the best teams choose to understand each member of the team. This deliberate action, to learn about the culture and history of each other, can transform strangers with prejudices into brothers and sisters with unconditional love for one another.

It’s difficult to have brutally honest conversations about the history of injustice towards people of color. Yet, teams gain so much from this understanding that they push through and do it anyway. Teams who take the time to be honest and learn about differing cultures and histories have a competitive advantage.

When we choose to trust the Lord Jesus with all of our hearts, we may come to terms with our ways of thinking and behaving towards people of color, and it may not align with the Word of God, thus resulting in a broken heart. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us not to depend on our own understanding, but His. If we choose to seek and to do God’s Will, He will teach us to live as one people, one human race, comprised of many sizes shapes, and colors, masterfully joined together to bring God glory, in the name of Jesus.

GO

• Has your heart been broken over racial issues and injustices? If so, when and how? If not, how come?
• What problem is God calling you to address along skin color and ethnicity lines?

WORKOUT

Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

OVERTIME

“Heavenly Father give me eyes to see the injustices, ears to hear the shouts of pain, and hands to help bring equality and justice to all people through Jesus Christ and Him alone. Amen.”

George Morris