Take a moment to refresh, refocus, and refine your faith.
God, thank you that people do, think, and see things differently. I would be so much poorer a person were I not challenged and enlightened by others’ perspectives. We have lost the meaning of respect in our culture, Lord. We no longer see it as the humble obedience of following Jesus’ example in how we treat others. Instead of honoring all people as your image-bearers, we demand deference in a superior attitude. Instead of opening ourselves to civil discourse, we argue defensively. But this division is far from the Eden culture you intended. Help me be a gap-bridger, peacemaker, and wall demolisher. Guide me in how I act toward and think of those different to me as Jesus would. Make me an effective agent of your loving and inclusive kingdom. Amen.
Philippians 2:1-5
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: