Two Things That You and I Have in Common

  We live in a world that seeks out differences and loves divisiveness. The enemy is never more pleased with himself than when we are pointing fingers and hurling hurtful words at each other. We look at each other’s lives and make assumptions. We are quick with the judgments and stingy with the grace.   What if, however, we chose to seek out what we have in common? Could we look at each other and realize that we are far more alike than we are different? It doesn’t matter if you are male or female, single or married, have children or not. It really doesn’t matter if you live in high rise apartment or on a farm. We all differ in parenting techniques, hobby choices and taste in music. {For instance, if you don’t love some good ol’ Willie and Waylon, I do not understand you.}   In an effort to seek common ground, I’m going to share two things that you and I have in common.   First, we are both broken.  

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. – Romans 3:23

  We live in a fallen world and we share the pain of living here. You and I both know what it means to hurt, to lose sleep at night and to experience loss. The chances are good that we have both been rejected or abandoned by someone. We have been misunderstood or mistreated. {Just for the record: You and I, at some point, have also been the ones to misunderstand or mistreat.}   We both fall short of the glory of God and are in desperate need of his grace. We are trying to make our way through this broken place and none of us make it through unscathed. What if we didn’t shoot our own wounded? What if, instead, we linked arms and lifted each other up?   Second, we are both loved passionately.  

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

  Whether it is the homeless person on the corner, the friend who betrayed us or the spouse who shares our bed, what if we loved them like God loves them? What if we saw them as someone precious in the eyes of the One who made them?   If we had compassion for each other, we would not be so quick to judge the mama with the rowdy kids, the teen that seems out of control, the person in front of us at the grocery store or the person beside us in the church pew. We would, instead, seek to encourage. We would ask God to give us a holy love for the people around us.   As you go about your day, ask God to allow you to see people differently. Ask Him to allow you to really see them. Because you and I, sweet friend, are not that different.