Today's Scripture
Be honest in your judgment and do not decide at a glance (superficially and by appearances); but judge fairly and righteously. John 7:24 AMP

Thoughts for Today
Are you a prejudiced person? You are most likely thinking, “Not me!” But is that really true?

Prejudice is the act of prejudging someone on the basis of something other than fact. Most people, when hearing the word prejudice, think of racism, but this is just one of many kinds of prejudice.

When we meet someone for the first time, we tend to “pigeon-hole” them in some way. We may judge them by the way they are dressed… by their vocabulary…or by the tattoo or the multiple earrings or hairstyle.

Prejudice involves prejudging someone before we know the facts. Sooo…if we decide that they are irresponsible because other family members have proved to be that way … that they are not trustworthy because they are Muslim … that they are a notch beneath us because of the way they are dressed … or maybe unapproachable because of their standing in society—are we not demonstrating prejudice? Absolutely.

Consider this…
Jesus looked beyond all these outward characteristics and guilt by association…he looked at the heart. If we want to demonstrate his love toward others, we need to do the same. To care about each individual enough to get acquainted, to understand them, and to love them unconditionally.

Prayer
Father, I haven’t considered myself to be a prejudiced person, but as I think about it, I realize that I do sometimes prejudge people. Help me to do as Jesus did—to look beyond superficial appearances and see the heart. In Jesus’ name …

These thoughts were drawn from…
One Nation Under God: Toward Race Reconciliation . This study shows that the foundational truth for the entire process of overcoming prejudice is oneness in Christ. This guide discusses the barriers and shows how to make Christ visible through love in action. It also offers the way to strengthen and bond relationships. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.  

 

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