We Are All God's Children: Embracing DifferencesSample

The Weight of History

The Bible tells us that we are God’s creation and special workmanship. It is important for us to understand the worth and value of each person and their historical shaping. Everyone has a past to unpack and understand. What is your history? How did your childhood shape the way you think today about race? How did you see BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) groups treated in your community?

If we don’t understand the past, we can’t relate to the present or look forward to the future. The entire message of the cross has less weight without the historical context of the children of Israel. If you acknowledge the Jewish people’s years of captivity and longing for a Savior, the cross begins to make sense. Making this connection emphasizes the power of the cross and causes us to behold the larger picture of God’s work in human history.

Imagine you are driving and a car swerves in front of you. Slamming on the brakes, your immediate thoughts are how you or your vehicle could have been damaged. You might think less of the other driver and their abilities. What you do not realize at that moment is what happened to that other individual that day. Maybe they were rushing to the hospital to say a final goodbye to a loved one. Perhaps they were late to work, and they were one paycheck away from being without a home. Sitting behind their wheel, you begin to understand the need for speed. This is a minor example of another’s immediate history. Consider the possible division that could result from our actions and choices if we do not acknowledge someone’s full history.

First, evaluate the history you’ve been taught, whether consciously or subconsciously, and how it has impacted the way you see others. When we choose to discover the history of another person and explore our own historical shaping, we can truly see the people standing right before our eyes. This choice honors God.

Prayer

Father, help me to be aware and to try to understand your children. When I see a person who is different from me in any way, remind me to pay attention to my thoughts and actions. Please help me to realize that each one of us has a history and to see them as you do.