Scripture… Galatians 3:28 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.
Story… The book of Jonah tells us a unique story not just of a disobedient prophet being eaten by a whale, but about a God who loves and pursues every ethnic family on this planet. By sending a cross cultural prophet with a word of salvation to a city filled with sworn ethnic enemies of the prophets nation Israel, the God of the Bible is teaching us about his view of “racial” diversity. Ultimately God is reconciled with that evil city Nineveh, that diverse band of sailors, and potentially that rebellious prophet Jonah.
What superiority complexes might you have like Jonah? What is God’s view of ethnicities, nationalities, and human diversity?
Head… What does God tell us about ethnicities?
Acts 17:26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,
Gen. 22:18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”
Acts 10:34-35 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
Psalm 22:27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.
Heart… How should I feel about people of other ethnic backgrounds?
Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Acts 10:34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,
John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
Rev.7:9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
Hands… What does my calling have to do with the nations?
Matthew 28: 18-19 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
1 Tim 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
Luke 10:27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
2 Cor. 5:18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
Prayer… God we celebrate you in your creative power in that you have created humanity in a beautiful diversity. Help us to embrace human equality of all people based on the reality that you have originated all human life in your sacred image. Lord, lead us to repent of hate, and join you in loving all people. Christ we pray your church would exist in perfect gospel unity and mysterious surprising diversity, because your blood has atoned for every tribe and every type of people. Help us to go into every nation, into every ethnic group, and share the good news of Jesus, the love of God, and the kind of service and care that can only be explained by your salvation and victory over death and sin.