DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: SEPTEMBER 11 REDUCING SPIRITUAL PREJUDICES SCRIPTURE: 1 COR. 6: 20; EPH. 4: 11 – 16
Prejudice, generally can be said to be generic trait in human beings. Every human exhibits prejudicial behaviour knowingly or unknowingly. Prejudice comes from diverse areas, places and based on so many reasons. This makes it hard to settle for specific ways on how to overcome it completely. However, it can be reduced. This devotional therefore, comes to give very few Christian ways spiritual prejudices can be reduced.
First, becoming Christians makes us stand on better position to differ in thoughts and actions from non-Christians. Our relationships with each other, regardless of culture, races, tribes and nationals should be based on one-family affairs. We are all born into God’s family on repentance. We are all bought with the Blood of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 6: 20). By these, we ought not to see ourselves belonging to different families, tribes, races or nationalities but people having same lineage. Thinking and behaving these ways reduce religious prejudices.
Second, Christians can reduce spiritual prejudice by what Bible referred to as “renewing of the mind” (Rom. 12: 2)._ This renewed mind makes us think of others and behave towards them with Christian and godly mindedness. We will begin to think about other Christians with the mind of Christ which is in us. Spiritual prejudice does not allow Christians behave with one another, wholesomely to glorify God as the scripture demanded of them.
Third, spiritual prejudice can be reduced by using our Spiritual gifts, talents and skills for building up the body of Christ collectively. Our God’s given gifts, talents, skills as well as anointing is not for fighting one another; but for building the house of God in every noble manner (Eph. 4: 11-16).
Fourth, Christians are to serve one another instead of severing only themselves. Apostle Peter admonished that each of us should use whatever gift received to serve one another (1 Peter 4: 10-11).
Biblically, any Christian, who through prejudice and hates another Christian based on tribe, race, national or holier than thou attitude, cannot be taken for being born again. Those being born again should behave towards each other as one with same identity.
Fifth thing to do to reduce spiritual prejudice is treating every Christian godly, brotherly and passionately with believe that whatever one does to another is done to Jesus Christ. In His parable about the sheep and goats, Jesus revealed that whatever we do to the least of the brethren on earth is done to Him (Matt. 25: 34 – 40). This devotional frankly frowns at the dangerous ways some African Christians operate in spiritual prejudices. These spiritual prejudices seem to be dangerously present in the minds of Nigeria Christians. We all got to reduce spiritual prejudices and behave in more cordial ways that depict us belonging to one God, one Master and one Faith.
PRAYER:
JEHOVAH FATHER, give Christians Holy Spirit dominated minds to see themselves as one race, one family, one tribe, and having one heavenly culture in Jesus name.
POSITIVE CONFESSION:
I see myself as same with other Christians regardless of colour, tribe, race and nationality in Jesus name!
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch