How to Heal Our Racial DivideSample

Day 4: God Wastes Nothing

Our God does not waste anything—the good, the bad, or the ugly. He doesn’t squander the people, places, and predicaments of our lives. Our Father in heaven, through the beautiful mystery of his loving providence, uses our backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences as a canvas to recreate us into his ambassadors of reconciliation.

Church tradition tells us that Paul’s family was from a Galilean village called Gischala, which is twelve miles northwest of Capernaum. The Romans likely conquered the area, making Paul’s dad a slave and moving him to Tarsus. Paul’s father faithfully observed the Torah in Tarsus. Eventually, he was freed from slavery and acquired Roman citizenship. Around AD 1, in the multicultural world of the eastern Mediterranean, Paul, the future racial reconcile, and Jew-Gentile unifier, was born. Tarsus was a leading city in the epicenter of Turkey (in Cilicia). Paul’s hometown was a source of philosophy, politics, industry, and culture. It was the Harvard of the Roman Empire. Tarsus had a flourishing textile business, which most likely would have been the basis of Paul’s family business, tentmaking. Paul’s father would have mentored him in the family trade. Because Paul grew up in a multilingual, multicultural city as a tentmaker, he would have interacted with Gentiles and understood Hellenistic (Greek) culture. His experience would have prepared him for his ministry as the apostle to the Gentiles (and the Jews). Paul’s multicultural upbringing became a strength in bridging the divide between Jews and Gentiles.

After Paul’s encounter with the risen Messiah, his eyes were opened, and he was filled with God the Holy Spirit. He was never the same. He was born again, and he became a participant in God’s new creation and mission. The remainder of his life would be poured out fiercely fighting to get Jews and Gentiles to be the new people of God through the saving work of Jesus, giving his Father the family that was promised to Abraham. Paul began to live on mission by bringing God’s Kingdom to earth as a peacemaker, reconciler, and unifier.

Healing the racial divide is going to require people who are unwavering in their allegiance to Jesus and his gospel. People who see their lives and experiences as gifts become bridges for the family of God.

For such a time as this, you are being raised up to be this person.

The church was birthed in a time of ethnic division and racism. By God’s grace, in Jesus, and with the Holy Spirit’s help, I believe the church can heal our racial divide today.

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