these are equal rights!

I'd like to say that I'm a citizen
who stands for equal rights
for all people.

But I also get that I am
a white woman in America
and many people believe that
I have not suffered injustice,
therefore I do not fully understand
what the fight is about,
nor if, and when it is won.

But I can't help how God made me.
He created me white;
Appointed female chromosomes.
He birthed me in America.
And I am, simply who I am.
I say this not pridefully...
just factually.

However, this does not mean
that I do not have a compassionate
heart for any who suffer injustice.

I have actually traveled within
and outside of this country,
witnessing firsthand,
women being treated
as second class citizens
simply because they are women.

I have also seen poverty unequaled
to anything this country knows.
Where people live in dirt fields,
huddled under rows of make-shift,
fort-like "homes" made from
lean-to pallets and cardboard.

If the slightest wind would come,
their cover would be tipped over
like a house of cards.
They have no running water
and rummage through trash
for food and supplies.
Yet children actually seem content
to kick a ball made of rags
someone tied together,
as they run around a dirt field...
not a green blade of grass in sight.

So I am very grateful for
what I have, who I am, and where I live.
And I do have some appreciation
for what others lack
both in human rights, as well as
provision and protection.

But that does not minimize my heart,
nor my desire to persuade others
to be moved toward change.

No, I may not have suffered
the discrimination that others have,
but that does not mean that I too
cannot fight for equal rights.

No, I may not have suffered
from poverty, nor homelessness,
but that does not mean that I too
cannot feed and care for
those in great need.

No, I may not have suffered
from abduction, nor human trafficking,
but that does not mean that I too
cannot fight for the rescue,
recovery and restoration of those
who have suffered, and the
capture and conviction of those
who have violated them.

But I'll tell you what I have suffered.
And that is sin.
I have suffered from my pride.
I have suffered from my selfishness.
I have suffered from mistakes,
wrong choices, judgement and shame.

And that does mean that I too
have earned the wages of sin.
But I am ever grateful
that there was One much more
compassionate that any of us.

But I didn't have to be
one of His disciples,
one of those so fortunate
to have walked and talked with Him
to have witnessed His love
in order to receive it.

Thankfully, because they shared
openly what they experienced
and were obedient to tell of Him
we too can share in this...

Then Peter opened his mouth
and said: “I see very clearly
that God shows no favoritism.
In every nation He accepts those
who fear Him and do what is right.

And He ordered us
to preach everywhere and
to testify that Jesus is
the one appointed by God to
be the judge of all--
the living and the dead.
He is the one all the prophets
testified about, saying that
everyone who believes in Him
will have their sins forgiven
through His name.”
Acts 10:34, 42-43

Please understand...
when Peter preached this message
it changed everything!
THIS was a VERY big deal.

Because before this,
the disciples were only telling
of the resurrection of Jesus
to the Jews.

But this happened after God
introduced Peter to a Roman Centurion.
He gave them both inspiration
so that the two nations...
the Jews and the Gentiles
(that's everyone) would be given
the opportunity to receive forgiveness.

THIS was GOOD news indeed!
This IS good news INDEED!

God shows no favoritism.
In every nation He accepts those
who fear Him and do what is right.

Everyone who believes in Him
will have their sins
forgiven through His name.

Equal rights in Jesus for all.
I am grateful that we do not need
to fight for this one.

We do not need
to live in each other's shoe
to have access to this.

We have a compassionate God
who created us all uniquely
and loves us all
more than enough that He
gave His own life, a sacrifice.

Isn't that much to rejoice
and set aside our differences?

Is there really any more to say?

Word of God
train me today...
To set aside my differences and share
this, the GOOD NEWS of
our compassionate God.

To believe and receive Your forgiveness,
and to live fully and freely
​in the truth of who You are.