Satan divides and brings conflict; Jesus unifies and brings peace

Colossians 3:9-11; Revelation 7:9,10

DEI underscores differences between people that can lead to conflict; Jesus unifies people to bring peace

Soul Food

Colossians 3:9-11 (NIV)

“Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.”

Revelation 7:9,10 (NIV)

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’”

Soul Search

• How often do you think about yourself and the uniqueness of who you are?
  God celebrates your uniqueness.
  What are some of the qualities about you that you like?
  What are some of the qualities that you don’t like?

• Your individualism and uniqueness is a gift but was never meant to be a deterrent to, or hinder, unity in the larger community and society.
  Is it possible that the celebration of your individualism has negatively affected your ability to positively contribute to the larger community/society around you?

• Have you adopted negative attitudes toward people who don’t celebrate your unique identity?
  Have you consciously or unconsciously separated yourself from portions of the community/society that you don’t agree with and/or that don’t share your views rather than finding common ground to unite over?

• Do you believe there is any absolute moral truth that can be the foundation for anyone and everyone to unify around?
  If so, what is it?
  If not, then what can bring unity to a highly diverse culture?

Soul Moves

• Ask God to show you what He celebrates about you.
  He created you specially and uniquely to be part of His family.
  What do you believe God loves about how He made you?

• Ask God to show you where your beliefs and attitudes have separated you from people and where those attitudes and beliefs may have brought division and conflict.

• The Bible says that Jesus is the “Prince of Peace.”
  The Truth that Jesus brings is accompanied by supernatural peace when one is in alignment with His Truths.
  Satan wants you tied up in knots and doesn’t want you to know the Truth that will set you free and bring peace.
  Ask God to lead and guide you into all Truth – His Truth – and to pour out His peace on you.

• Ask God to show you how His unique and special creation called YOU can be an influencer for good in the world and can be a unifier rather than a divider in our fractured and broken world.