Do you try to force people to fit into the mold you have in your mind? Do you look oddly at those who are different than you expect? Do you determine people are right or wrong based on your paradigm? Do you know that God has purposely created people to be different?
We see different people all around us. There are people with different colors of skin, different skills, different physical attributes, different ways of thinking, and different preferences. Our differences create a wonderful tapestry around this world.
Too often, we mistreat people who are different than we are. We see the difference as a means for looking sideways at them. We are both curious about the differences and wary of them. We often look down our noses at people who are different. Since they are not like us, we may look at them as being inferior. We miss a wonderful opportunity to learn about and experience something new.
The Apostle Paul doesn’t merely address differences with a broad stroke but goes into some detail. Even people who look like us do not always like the same things we do. Paul addresses eating preferences, but we can apply this principle to a plethora of other differences. Those differences may include clothing, schools, sports teams, pets, political party, shopping choices, vehicles, wealth, and even our churches. Our preferences are not to be a reason to judge one another. We are to treat all people as a child of God. We are to treat all people in a loving and caring manner at all times.
I pray we all look at differences in a positive light. I pray we see the wonder of God’s tapestry all around us. I pray each one of us chooses to treat others with love and care, as children of God. Celebrate differences. Do not judge based on preferences. Treat others well. Treat everyone as a child of God.
Romans 14:3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.
Marty Pressey 