#trendingtopic
The number one trending topic on Facebook today is the release of the body cam and dashcam footage of a recent police shooting of a black man in Charlotte, NC. No one can deny we are in a dark time, as a nation, where we are realizing we are not nearly as far along in race relationships as we thought.
If you're like me you might feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of incidences of this nature that pop up on a seemingly weekly basis. Given our inherent nature, we are tempted to either "fight" and join protests or demonstrations, or "flight" and go about your life as though the suffering of our fellow man does not affect us. I know "flight" has always been my m.o.
#scripturetiein
In Galatians we are told that "There is neither Jew, nor Greek, there is neither slave, nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).
In Matthew, when Jesus is asked which is the greatest commandment, he answers, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:36-40)
#liveit
In Matthew, when Jesus is asked which is the greatest commandment, he answers, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:36-40)
#liveit
Shortest way to combine these messages: Love. Love God. Show God you love Him by loving everyone the way he does, without discrimination based on race, gender or social status. Love.
If you're angry and want to fight, try love instead. If you're scared and want to run and hide, try love instead.
If you assume all black men are instigating the police to violence, try love instead.
If you assume all white police officers are biased against black men, try love instead.
Because we all know, LOVE is patient, LOVE is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, It is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. LOVE does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) And perfect LOVE drives out fear (1 John 4:18) which is all that any form of blanket hatred is: a fear of what we cannot understand.
#prayer
If you're angry and want to fight, try love instead. If you're scared and want to run and hide, try love instead.
If you assume all black men are instigating the police to violence, try love instead.
If you assume all white police officers are biased against black men, try love instead.
Because we all know, LOVE is patient, LOVE is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, It is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. LOVE does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) And perfect LOVE drives out fear (1 John 4:18) which is all that any form of blanket hatred is: a fear of what we cannot understand.
#prayer
Lord, I ask that you search my heart, find my biases against my fellow man, and eradicate them. Lord, help me to love all others the way that you do. Lord I want to not only say I love my neighbor, but know that my "neighbor" is everyone and to love is an action. Help me, Lord, to be brave enough to resist earthly responses to this complex problem, in favor of seeking your counsel and guidance. Let me never run from an opportunity to love, Lord, no matter the color of a person's skin, or color of a person's uniform.
Amen
Amen
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