In light of the recent pandemic, we have tried to limit our media exposure. As with everyone, we find too much media exposure increases the anxiety and stress level in our home. Understandably, however, my husband enjoys watching the nightly news to keep updated on current events that might affect our family. And the coverage that we have seen regarding the death of George Floyd has left us paralyzed, outraged, and heartbroken. Unfortunately racism is still rampant in the world and Mr. Floyd is proof of that. But God does not categorize by race. He does not see the world in technicolor.  When it comes to our differences, God is color blind.

“Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” Acts 10:34-35.

There are countless verses in Scripture that describe God’s love for us.  Today, however, I am going to focus on the verse that nearly every Christian learns at the beginning of their walk with God.  John 3:16 states, “¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This verse does not say, “For God so loved [insert gender here]…” or “For God so loved [insert social status here]…” or “For God so loved [insert race here]…”.  It says that God loved the world. The ENTIRE WORLD!!!!

Ponder that thought for a moment. God made the ultimate sacrifice and sent His only son down to this earth — knowing the torture and brutality that He would endure — to die. He did that for you and me, and even for Derek Chauvin’s (the Officer responsible for Mr. Floyd’s death). And He did it knowing the magnitude of all of our sins.

He didn’t die for a specific group of people, not for a specific race or skin color because when it come to prejudices, God is color blind. He doesn’t see the color of our skin, He sees the heart. ““I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:10.

In this country (and most) there is a judicial system. Because they are authored and dispensed by man…it is flawed. And at times, it is portioned out in bias.

But, God shows no bias toward people, regardless of color. On that issue, He is color blind.

God is a just God. He metes out justice, based on sin. But not based on the magnitude of our sin, based on whether we possess the proverbial “get out of jail free card”. That card is Jesus and it/He cleanses us of our sin.

You see, as hard as it is to comprehend, God does not gauge sin. He despises them all and they will separate us from Him. Our sins are no better than those of the murderers, thieves, or prostitutes that we judge. Which in and of itself is yet another sin.

But, despite our sin, we can obtain a “get out of jail free card”.

God has given us the greatest gift of all: forgiveness…through the shed blood of Jesus. Like words written on a chalkboard, God wipes our sin away when we acknowledge His greatness (and our sinfulness), humble ourselves and repent.

And it is up to us to hold God’s mirror up for the world, reflecting God’s forgiveness… even towards those who have hurt or wronged us. Even those who commit heinous crimes, even crimes based on color.

When I find it hard to forgive someone, I think about the magnitude of my sin (especially those that I commit over and over and over). Yet God forgives me.

My sin weighed just as heavily upon Jesus’s body as anyone else’s sin. Yes, even murderers. So, Jesus hung on that cross, wounded and dying, because of me. But because of the forgiveness that is found in Jesus, I will not face the eternal consequences that I deserve.

Isaiah 53: 1-12 says, “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.”

Jesus carried our sorrows upon that cross. Despised by men and acquainted with grief, He was wounded for the transgressions of MANKIND. Yet, He died for us: the murderers, the adulterers, the swindlers.

Think about this. Because God is all-knowing, He had the foreknowledge of all the atrocities that we would face, and commit, over the last 100 years alone. The millions of lives lost during the Holocaust, God knew about. He saw the Civil Rights Movement, discrimination, and the horrors perpetrated by the Ku Klux Klan before they ever happened. God knew of 9/11 and similar terrorist attacks that would rock the very foundation of our world. He knew of the current emotional, racial, and political division that we face at this very moment in our country. Yet, He still loved us enough to send His son here so that all of us — even those involved in those earth-shattering acts — could profess, repent, and emerge white as snow. Why? Because, with God…eternal lives matter.

As a Christian community, we need to pray for the family of George Floyd. We need to pray for renewed faith, understanding, and forgiveness in our country. And we have to pray for the salvation of Derek Chauvin, the police officer involved and all other officers and people like him. As inhumane as his actions were, God calls us to love and forgive. God detests every sin — even the ones we deem insignificant — and He shows us that all eternal lives matter. This man’s innocent family also deserves prayer. They will now have to suffer the consequences of his actions.

Father God, I pray for the state of our nation. Neighbor has turned against neighbor, brother against brother. We thank you that, in your eyes, we are all the same. We thank you that you do not judge based on the color of our skin and are, for all intents and purposes, color blind on that matter. Lord, mankind is broken. You are the only glue that can put us back together. Guide our country in the right direction. Open the eyes that cannot (or do not wish to) see. Cause the deaf ears to hear Your words loudly. Strip away hate from our hearts. Give us the divine unity that can only come from You.

Lord, we pray for the family of George Floyd. In fact, we pray for those (and their families) who have been harmed or murdered in hatred. Please, place Your healing hand upon them and assure them that change is on the horizon. You are with us, Lord, and you know first hand the suffering of persecution. You experienced it so long ago on the cross. Father, divinely intervene and place someone in the life of Derek Chauvin and others like him, who can share Your forgiveness with them. Help them to understand that there is no prejudice in the Kingdom of God. We know that you value their souls as much as anyone else’s. Because all eternal lives matter in your sight.

Also Lord, please watch over the families of the perpetrators of hatred. Draw them to yourself as well and do not allow the discrimination and hatred to spill over on them, in retaliation. Do not let them suffer emotional, mental, or physical condemnation for the sins of others. Give them peace, Lord.

Finally, Father God, we praise you that we can attain forgiveness for all of our wrongs. And You wipe our sins clean, with one swipe of a nail scarred hand. Thank you Jesus! We pray these things in your precious and holy name. Amen.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and have been struggling with the state of our current world, please go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. I promise you that God is waiting for you there because ALL eternal lives matter to God. If you do, please reach out to me at admin@forgiven-n-loved.com. I would love to be in prayer for you!

Luv ya!