Is there any excuse or room for prejudice or discrimination among people of faith?

Jesus had traveled to the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, a predominantly Gentile region of Galilee, known as Decapolis.

By going there, Jesus crossed social and racial barriers, entering a territory where Jewish people didn’t normally hang out.

He sat down on a mountainside, and crowds started streaming toward Him. These people knew very little about His Jewish heritage or faith, yet they were drawn to Him.

Ministering to His fellow Jews, Jesus often praised someone’s “great faith” or said, “Your faith has healed you” (Mark 5:34). They knew the prophecies about the Messiah. They knew Jewish scripture. Many of them began to recognize who Jesus was.

But here, in this Gentile territory, racial prejudice and animosity existed on both sides. Many were outcasts, shunned by society and ignorant of Jewish tradition.

But they were drawn to Jesus and brought “the lame, the blind, the crip- pled, the mute, and many others, and laid them at His feet.”

And He healed them.

No discrimination, no prescription, no questions asked, no fee required. They came to Jesus. And He healed them all.

The people were amazed and began to praise the true God of Israel. Then He fed them a miraculous meal in which seven loaves and a few small fish multiplied to feed four thousand men, besides women and children, with leftovers.

What a beautiful picture of the position, power, and love of Jesus.

Is there any room for prejudice and discrimination among people of faith?

Jesus answered that question with His actions and His love. No matter who we are, what we know or don’t know, we can all come to Jesus for help and healing. He turns no one away. Ever. You never know who God might bring your way to challenge some of your prejudices and fears. Jesus showed us what to do. Welcome, love, and minister to those in need in His Name.

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Jesus was in a tough place. Towns where He had performed miracles—where “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor” —rejected Him.

“These cities did not attack Jesus Christ; they did not drive Him from their gates; they did not seek to crucify Him. They simply disregarded Him. Neglect can kill as much as persecution.”

Jesus cried out to them, “Woe to you, woe to you!…For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes” (Matthew 11:21).

He grieved over their indifference.

And yet, in the middle of this heartbreaking scenario, Jesus prayed to His Father:

“O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.”

He thanked and praised the Lord of Heaven. He trusted in His Father’s plan even when things weren’t lining up.

The source of Jesus’ great joy is His absolute trust in the Father’s plan.

He trusted in the sovereign Lord of all. Not even the rejection of His people would thwart the ultimate purposes of God.

The sophisticated religious leaders and the wise and learned who rejected Him did not see what ordinary people saw.

Jesus would face even harder times leading up to the crucifixion, but in every circumstance, He knew He could trust in His Father’s plan—indeed, He found great joy in the midst of hardship.

Is life hard for you right now? Things aren’t going according to plan?

Jesus understands.

This story ends with Him reaching out and comforting His followers, then and now:

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29, NIV).

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God does not force us into a small corner, asking us to live, worship, and behave the same. He loves variety!

As I’ve said before, unity is not uniformity.

But we are alike in one respect. What pulls us all together is not agreement on the details.

We are united and alike in that all believers have been anointed with one Spirit.

Unity is indeed like precious oil. Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. It is thick and fragrant! The High Priests of ancient Israel were anointed with special oil, as instructed by God to Moses (Exodus 30:23).

The same oil was used to anoint priests, prophets, and kings who needed the Holy Spirit to fulfill their callings.

This is also true for each of us. This oil was not dabbed on but poured over their heads, running down their beards. Likewise, we need to be drenched in the Holy Spirit as we live and serve together in the Kingdom of God.

Then what follows is “the dew of Hermon,” symbolizing the life-giving Word of God that shows us how to walk in obedience, humility, brokenness, and victory. We learn to receive and live the abundant life Jesus promised, filled with the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

The Holy Spirit unites us, poured out upon a variety of characters who happen to be your brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ! Not all alike, but united by His Spirit. “For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore.”

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The importance of friends, the need to join hands, and friendship in Jesus’ Name, strengthens our faith and just plain makes life better. It also builds unity in the church.

But sometimes it’s hard to make these connections. I have some suggestions:

Choose to belong to this family. If you are a believer in Jesus, you are part of God’s family. Choose to be involved, to make a commitment to other believers. I know it can be hard, and we are often afraid of commitment. The church is not just an organization that accomplishes good things. The heart of the church is to be a family, where we can bless, encourage, exhort, and teach one another.

Make friends for the purpose of sharing your spiritual journey.

“Together with God’s holy people,” the scripture above says. Together we learn, pray, weep, and rejoice as we help each other understand the depth of God’s love.

Do your part in God’s family. Everyone has a role to play. Everyone has gifts they can share. That’s how families work. Don’t be intimidated by that. Your skills and talents are as important and needed as anyone else’s. Church members are not consumers—we are part of a community, a fam- ily. The level and strength of unity increase when we share the duties.

Be devoted. I recently told my church, I will stand with you, committed and devoted, no matter what. As brothers and sisters, we cannot be tearing down, accusing, and criticizing. Jesus promised, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). In unity, we are devoted to Jesus and His church, in a divine commitment, and an answer to His prayer for us, “that they all may be one” (John 17:21).

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Do you ever feel isolated and alone, even in the midst of a busy life? We live in a culture so overwhelmed with information and technology that we are in danger of losing the personal touch of friendship.

We don’t even have to go to the store or mall to shop; click on a website, purchase, and have it delivered. We don’t have to talk to people in person; it can all be done (so we think) through technology.

Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate and use technology, computers, and smartphones as much as anyone. But they can’t replace true friends who can understand what you are going through. Friends who know your temptations, struggles, fears, and problems.

Friends with skin who can hug you and hold your hands in prayer.

The enemy wants to isolate you and get you alone, but your Heavenly Father knows that is not healthy.

Jesus prayed for unity among His followers, and He made it easy to start.

“Where two or three are gathered, in My name,” He said. Only two—or maybe three—when we gather in His Name, we are united. And what does He promise?

“I am there, in the midst.”

He is present.

The Lord is there! It’s not hard, He’s telling us. Start with two and watch what happens. When He sees that, it is a spark of heavenly unity through which He will bless us with fellowship and answered prayers. “Again, I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” —Matthew 18:19

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Our world is troubled by division on every front. Political contention, financial pressures, family breakdowns, and churches criticizing each other—our enemy works hard to divide and conquer. We need to fight back.

There is no greater joy than to live in harmony with God’s people. If you can receive this message, you will discover greater joy, peace, and fulfillment in your church, family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers—even in your marriage or dating relationships.

Strife among God’s people is not new. Cain murdered Abel. Lot quarreled with Abraham. Joseph’s brothers hated him and sold him into slavery. King David’s sons rebelled against him. Jesus’ own disciples argued about who would be the greatest. Paul and Barnabas disagreed and separated— the list goes on.

As believers, our battle is not against each other! Our true enemy is not the person sitting next to you in church, or your spouse, your children, your co-workers, or another church.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

No wonder Jesus prayed, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:20-21).

Jesus prayed for unity!

We don’t have to agree on the details of styles of worship, traditions, or even nuances of interpretation.

God asks for unity, not uniformity.

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace,” Ephesians tells us (4:3). We can be an answer to Jesus’ prayer.

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Don’t reject Jesus because an atheistic professor sneers at Christianity in a classroom. Don’t reject Jesus because some strange cult distorts or misrepresents Him. Don’t reject Jesus because a prominent evangelist falls. Don’t judge Jesus based on what others say about Him. Even as believers, we turn away from Jesus when we are disillusioned or doubt.

Judge and trust Jesus on the basis of His own words and actions.

The last part of this verse is often quoted. “The truth will set you free.” But what we need to see, in context, is that Jesus isn’t just saying that once someone tells you the truth, you’ll instantly recognize it and be free.

You will never find true freedom until you examine the evidence for yourself. Jesus is not afraid to be tested, tried, or scrutinized. Stick with this, live out what I tell you, He said. Then you are My disciples for sure, and you will know that this is the Truth.

Test the truth of what Jesus taught in the laboratory of life. Find out for yourself, does it work?

How do we find out?

By DOING it!

Find out what He says through His Word. The Truth of His words will take you through all the illusions, the dreams, and wishful thinking. His Word will expose all the lies, distortions, and half-truths.

Get into His Word, live it, test it, and experience freedom!

“The New Testament does not say, ‘You shall know the rules and be bound by them,’ but, ‘You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.’” —John Baillie

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“NAAMAN’S SERVANTS WENT TO HIM AND SAID, ‘MY FATHER, IF THE PROPHET HAD TOLD YOU TO DO SOME GREAT THING, WOULD YOU NOT HAVE DONE IT? HOW MUCH MORE, THEN, WHEN HE TELLS YOU, “WASH AND BE CLEANSED”’!” —2 KINGS 5:13, NIV

Naaman was a powerful man, the commander of the Syrian king’s army, honorable, respected, powerful, a man of valor.

But he was a leper.

Leprosy, a dreaded, contagious, and incurable disease, made its victims social outcasts who suffered disfigurement and death. It is often used as an allegory for sin in the Old Testament.

Being a leper overshadowed all Naaman’s achievements and accolades.

A young, Israelite servant girl told Naaman’s wife about a prophet who could heal. Naaman was invited to visit this renowned prophet, Elisha.

And what did Elisha do with this important man? He sent a servant with a simple message: “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times and your flesh shall be restored to you and you shall be clean” (2 Kings 5:10).

Naaman was furious. This so-called prophet failed to greet him properly and gave him ridiculous instructions.

Naaman raged and complained.

Why the muddy Jordan River? Aren’t there better rivers? I thought the prophet would greet me. I thought he would call on the Lord and wave his hand over me and heal my leprosy.

I thought. I thought.

Naaman feared looking foolish. His pride was wounded. He came perilously close to missing the blessing God had for him. His mind was stuck on, “I thought.”

One of his servants reasoned with him, “What have you got to lose? If the prophet had asked you to do something great, would you not have done it? Why not try this one simple thing?”

So, desperate, Naaman surrendered. With each dip in the water, an intense spiritual battle was being waged in his mind. He fought humiliation and the urge to run from this foolishness. Finally, after the seventh plunge, he came up and “his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel,” he exclaimed (2 Kings 5:15).

How angry Satan must have been! Naaman was healed, and he acknowledged the One True God.

Just think how close he came to allowing one thought to bar him from a miracle. One thought almost shut the gates of healing. One thought almost kept him from the goodness of God. One thought of obedience led to the release of God’s miraculous power in his life.

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A doctor left a successful practice and a six-figure salary to deliver babies in a run-down maternity ward in Moscow. Using her own money to improve and run the ward, she is rapidly depleting her savings and risking her financial security.

She has never been happier.

She is following God’s call on her life.

The more we grow in the knowledge of God, the more we learn what is important. Our happiness is a direct result of growing in our relationship with the Lord.

When our will is subject to His will, our spirits will soar under the wings of His love.

If your spirit is broken, your will is out of control, and you feel discouraged, I suggest three things:

Humble your spirit and worship God. Seek Him with your whole heart; purpose in your heart to have a personal relationship with Him. Spend time with Him in His Word and prayer.

Seek His will and ask Him to break you and fill you with His Spirit.

Educate your mind. I don’t care how many graduations and degrees you have obtained. Life is a process of learning and growing. If you stop learning, you become BORING! If you have ceased to be curious and to ask questions, then you need to start again, like a child. Jesus said about children, “The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Don’t be satisfied with where you are now spiritually.

Feed on God’s Word, educate your mind and your soul. Grow.

Dedicate your body to active service. Romans 12:1 says, “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

People want their lives to make a difference. Many find happiness in service, working through churches, the Red Cross, scouts, Sunday schools, and home fellowships. Wherever God puts you, He will bless you for giving of yourself.

We all need a mission in life, and God has the greatest mission of all.

He has commanded us to love Him, to love our neighbors, and to go into the world to preach the Gospel, sharing His love. Through God’s divine power, we possess ALL things that are important; all that will satisfy, all that will give us abundant life, everything we need for life.

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“Abundant life” is a phrase thrown around by motivational speakers and preachers a lot. But do we really know what that means?

Jesus offers us a radical contrast.

He gives us a choice. He says, You can come with me, and I will give you a rich, abundant life, or you can live for the devil, a thief who steals our joy, robs us of our peace, and kills our faith.

God gives us a choice in how we live our lives.

Faithfulness versus emptiness. Purpose or meaninglessness. Life or death. Heaven or Hell.

A Roman soldier came to Julius Caesar with a request for permission to commit suicide. He was wretched and miserable, lacking in vitality.

The story records that Caesar looked at the man and said, “Man, were you ever really alive?”

“He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you,” wrote the apostle Paul (Romans 8:11).

It is the Lord who gives us LIFE—not just existence. And He longs for that life to be full, rich, emotionally satisfying, mentally challenging— abundant! “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19, NIV).

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