THINK TOGETHER
What are some of the ways that people are different? How do these differences divide us?
READ TOGETHER
The Apostle Paul wants the Colossians to understand just how important Jesus Christ really is. He is God and he is a person. But he’s not just a person, he is THE person. He is the one person who will bring all other people together. Here’s how Paul says it to the Colossians:
Colossians 3:11.Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Look around at the other people in your house. How are they different? Boys and girls? Old and young? Tall and short? Now think about beyond your family. What other differences have you seen in people? Black, brown, and white? Rich and poor? Different jobs? Different beliefs?
Paul lists some of the differences of his day in Colossians 3:11 (Greek and Jew, slave and free, etc.) but in the end he tells us that Jesus Christ will unite us all. Why? Because Christ is all and in all. That means that the purpose of every human being (including you) is to be like Jesus. But that can only happen if you have trusted in Jesus to take away your sins and give you his life. In other words, you have to be connected to Jesus in order for him to be your all in all forever, even after you die.
And until then we can live with everyone else as friends not enemies. Rather than seeing all the ways we are different we can start by seeing all the ways we are the same. We can see how we all image Jesus just like Jesus images God. No matter who we are with, we can see them the way Jesus sees them, and we can see Jesus in them too.
Because of Jesus everyone images God like he does.
With Jesus we can treat everyone the way we would treat him, even those who are different from us.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Take some time to think through together all the ways that people are different. Maybe look at pictures of your friends and classmates and notice the differences. But then talk about how we are all the same because we are all loved by Jesus. Jesus is bigger than any difference we might have.
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus,
Help me to see others the way you do. Help me to see you in others too.
Amen.
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