skin and hearts
“We have the same skin,” she noted, holding her tiny arm next to mine.
“We sure do. The same color of skin and hair and eyes. Because that’s what God chose for us.”
She’s started noticing, and commenting, on the differences between herself and other people.
Differences that are obvious, just as God designed them to be.
“God chooses to give people all different colors of skin and hair and eyes.” I wanted her to understand that truth. The truth that our design is God’s doing.
And even though we come in custom colors, our differences in shading hardly holds a candle to the many things we have all have in common.
God chose you to look like you. He chose me to look like me.
And for that, you should never apologize, criticize, or despise.
Because we are a reflection of God. Made in His image, and our differences boast of His endless creativity. There is no reason to be sorry about that. We see strokes of beauty, each one unique, painted into every human life as a reminder that we are intentionally crafted by God. An amazing miracle and wonder that no two of us are alike.
Yet when we begin to criticize ourselves and others, we are actually criticizing the work and design of our Maker. And when we despise the work of God’s hands, it is not mankind, but God that we hold in disdain.
There is so much more to you than the shade of the epidermis encasing your soul. The color of your skin, holding together the fleshy vessel you use to get around on this side of Heaven, does not define who you are – making any one shade superior or inferior, and contrary to popular belief, any one shade solely responsible for the mess we’ve all created from the combination of our sins.
Because we have no control concerning the color of our skin, my friends, but we do have full control over the conditions of our hearts.
So may we choose to possess hearts that fear God. Hearts that submit to Him, that believe His word, and that live out His truths. Hearts that are not hard and resistant, full of anger and hate, but hearts that are soft and kind. Hearts that God can mold and use for His kingdom. Hearts that love like Christ, bringing light into a dark world.
God is not wrapped in flesh, you know. Our skin will never match His. But if we are willing to fully surrender ourselves, trusting God and leaning on His promises, He will do a work in our hearts, changing them so they begin to match His own.
“Teach me your ways, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.” Psalm 86:11-12
