Freedom of Choice, Not Prejudice
By Jean A Sturgill | July 30, 2010
We have folks that are prejudiced against women, white urban males, the Polish, the Jews, the Russians, the Turks, and even the local ball team. It’s been this way through out history, and it always will be.
In this process of not wanting to be prejudiced, I think we have lost focus on the freedom of choice.
It’s okay to be proud to be an American. It’s ok to be proud to be …. And you fill in the blank. If you are proud of your heritage or culture or even race, it does not mean that you are prejudiced against another. It also does not make you better than anyone else. It just means you are happy to be who you are.
Then again, perhaps it is only that tick away – when you begin to feel you are better than everyone else – that you become prejudiced.
Here is an example from scripture of what I mean.
And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
Genesis 24:2-7
In this case it was customary for the parents to pick the wife for the son from the folks they knew in the country from whence they came. The bottom line is that Abraham wanted a wife for his son that was from their kindred. He wanted Isaac to have a wife that held the same beliefs and had the same cultural background. It was a spiritual decision.
Isn’t it interesting how we can focus on what Abraham wanted – a spiritual match for his son and celebrate freedom of choice, or we can focus on what he did not want – a wife from the Canaanites, and call it prejudice.
LIFE APPLICATION
Key Focal Verse:
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Titus 1:2
Today’s challenge is to keep praying for revival. Pray for America to see God in the midst of the storm. Pray for Americans to hold on the freedoms God has given her – freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press to name a few. Pray for Americans to see each other as Americans and not be divided by any form of prejudice. Pray for our upcoming elections. May God Bless America.
Topics: Learning to Walk, National Concerns | Leave a Comment »
Road Rage And The Christian Driver
By Jean A Sturgill | July 29, 2010
All of a sudden, just before impact, the truck cut into the median and the backend went skidding away from me. Black tire marks stretched down the road before me, and the smell of burnt rubber filled the air.
God had intervened!
Have you ever slammed on brakes to get someone off of your bumper because you were mad, and they were too close? After I tell you this story you might just reconsider.
It was 2002, and I had been to see my mother. I was driving during rush hour. Our boys were in the back seat. My van had no air bags.
A transfer truck pulled into my lane. I let my foot off the gas, and started building some distance between this truck and me. The next thing I knew, he slammed on brakes. I remember thinking that I would probably bury the front end of the van all the way up to the windshield under the backend of his truck. I was grateful the boys were in the backseat.
As my van got closer and closer to his truck I continued to mash the break as hard as I could. I kept thinking to myself, “I cannot get any closer.” Nevertheless, the gap was closing moment-by-moment between this truck and me. Then suddenly, praise God, the backend went skidding away from me.
If God had not intervened, I would not be here today.
I can only guess that the vehicle in front of the truck did something. Maybe the truck was too close for comfort, and they hit their brakes. I don’t know. Maybe the driver got ill. Someone else checked on him, and I called for help. Whatever happened, he brought that truck to an immediate stop. I was not tailgating, but I would have hit the backend extremely hard had it not moved out of the way when it did.
I know folks can make you mad when you are driving. I am sure that when folks tailgate me, and I slow down that it rattles them. All I can think of is what if I have to hit the brakes? What happens to them?
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Colossians 3:23
If you have a problem with road rage, I encourage you to remember that even your driving can be done as unto the Lord. Also remember that folks sometimes make big mistakes when they are driving. They get in a hurry to pick up that child or meet that loved one. They may be late for work. They may accidentally cut you off. Give that person the benefit of the doubt.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:11-12
LIFE APPLICATION
Key Focal Verse:
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Titus 1:2
Today’s challenge is to not give in to road rage. Be patient with the other driver. Remember whatever they did, they may not have even realized they did it. However, even if they know what they have done, we need to love one anther. Extend love to this other person by letting it go.
Topics: Business Challenges, Learning to Walk | Leave a Comment »