Galatians 3:26-28 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

I quote verse 28 every time I do marriage counseling, because it is a vitally important understanding for a healthy marriage. This is the exact opposite of what the devil does, dividing people in any way he can. “Identity politics” is an absolutely despicable lie of the devil that is threatening to destroy America at this point. That is exactly what he wants to do, because America, with all its many faults, has been a powerful force for good in the world. Thankfully, more and more people seem to be waking up to this lie, not just in America but around the world. God created us with differences for many reasons, not least of which being that He seems to really like variety. However, those differences aren’t to divide us, but to make us complementary, meeting each other’s needs and compensating for each other’s weaknesses. It is in Christ that this is brought to fulfillment, just as it says here. Any Christian with international connections has discovered that our bond in Christ transcends language, culture, and ethnicity. It is wonderful to discover that we have brothers and sisters who don’t look a thing like us! This is vital to remember right now, when so many things are being used to divide us.

This is an understanding that has always come pretty easily to me, since I grew up as a Caucasian in Japan. At the same time, I also felt discriminated against, that I never really fit in, not just a Caucasian among Asians, but as a missionary kid in a US Air Force dependents school, and then as an emotionally Japanese person in America. That has made unity in Christ very precious to me. At the moment this church has people from Japan, America, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Honduras in attendance, so we have little hope of unity apart from Christ! However, we do have Christ, and so enjoy rich fellowship. We are tasting just a little bit of heaven, where the Bible tells us, “There before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9) As we stand in that awareness, we will overcome the enemy.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the unity we do enjoy here. Thank You that more and more people around the world are waking up to Your truth in many areas. There are those who refuse that truth and stand against it. Help Your children stand firm, always speaking Your truth in Your love, even if it means martyrdom, so that Your name may be acknowledged as holy and Your rule and reign be established as Your will is done, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!