Quiet Devotions is a daily devotion based on one of the readings from the Daily Lectionary (as it appears in the back of Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Augsburg Fortress, 2006). All biblical quotes are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) unless otherwise noted. May these devotions help bring you in closer relationship with the Triune God.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Year B, Advent 2, Wednesday


Inspired by Malachi 2:10-3:1

“Have we not all one father?  Has not one God created us?  Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our ancestors?”  Malachi 2:10

Differences abound throughout the world.  We are different genders, have different skin colors, and speak different languages.  We value different traditions, adhere to different cultural norms, and have different ideals according to which we’re trying to shape the world in which we all must live.  There’s an awful lot to disagree on.

Yet we are all, every single one of us, the intentional creation of God the Father.  We are all, every single one of us, human beings, created in the image of God.  While there is much to drive us apart, at our core we have more in common than not.

The next time you are tempted to dismiss someone who is different from you as worthless or unimportant, remember that God loves that person as much as he loves you.  And the next time you feel disregarded or ignored by someone who doesn’t recognize your inherent value, remember that that person is your brother or sister who is disowning a part of themselves by disowning you, and that his or her life will be much poorer for it.

Let us pray.  Loving Father, you love wondrous diversity.  Help us to appreciate the different gifts you have given us all, that we may better understand the breadth and depth of your creative love.  Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

No comments:

Post a Comment