At an early age I learned that Jesus was for all people of the world and all colors, and not just those who were like me. They didn’t all speak the same or look like us and some taught us Swahili words as we tried singing in another language. It was similar when I got married and our parsonage was often frequented by missionaries who had exciting stories to tell our kids as well. I think the Bible smuggler that stayed with us was their all-time favorites!
But through our experiences we came to understand that the Body of Christ is rich and made up of many different kinds of people whose common denominator is Jesus. Even when we can’t understand their language we still seem to communicate in the spirit. God’s mercy is so vast and extends to all the corners of the earth. While reading the book of Jeremiah, I noted Jeremiah gave messages from the Lord to 10 different nations. It doesn’t matter where we come from, we are all in need of the Lord and once we receive Him, we are to share Him with whoever He leads us to for “God so loved the whole world.” (John 3:16) Let us not just huddle with people similar to us, but open our hearts and let them be stretched to include all.
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