Does God Care About DiscriminationНамуна

THE WIDOW ON A PEDESTAL

We don’t have to try hard to find out what the scriptures say about God’s heart for those who are discriminated against. This is what attracts me most to the God of the Bible. One of the emotions experienced by those who have gone through any sort of abuse or discrimination is that they feel an intense lack of self-worth. This often cripples them from moving on with life. Deep depression sets in when people face rejection because of factors they are unable to identify or deal with. Being discriminated against is a deadly disease in most world societies and it has left countless people feeling unloved and uncared for.

As God’s people we need to be careful to not tread on the wounds of those who have been stripped of their God-given dignity but be open to caring and nursing their wounds and show them their true worth. It is heart-warming to read through scriptures and see how God cared for the lowly, the insignificant and the nobodies. On that day at the temple, Jesus takes notice of the poor widow who gave all that she had. Here was a woman who was poor, with nothing to look forward to in life. In a culture that looked down on women she probably was denied all human rights to dignity and well-being that we are so used to today. To the rest of the crowd that day, this widow simply didn’t exist. She was insignificant, unworthy and unimportant. But to Jesus, she stood out not just because she gave all that she had but also because He chose to see her for who she really is – a vessel worthy of honor, a precious creation of God who was ignored and uncared for. Jesus lifted her up that day and placed her on a pedestal.

In fact, everything that Jesus did while on earth highlighted God’s compassion and love for those abused and taken advantage of. He was enraged at the sight of the merchants who made the temple a place where the poor and alien were being exploited. Jesus literally and figuratively overturned the tables of those who tried to strip people of their God-given dignity. He used every opportunity to restore people to their rightful status with God, as those with intrinsic value and worth. May God enable us all to look at people around us through His eyes. May His word cleanse us every day to remove those big planks of discriminatory and prejudicial attitudes we carry around in our hearts. May God enable us to be the healing balm in a world that is constantly trying to justify and dignify discriminatory practices and beliefs.