Acts 2:41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

I don’t think I’d ever noticed it before, but here, rather than saying “men,” Luke says “souls.” (The Japanese says “people,” and the NIV skips it entirely. ) Once the Holy Spirit was poured out, gender differences became irrelevant. They still had to deal with all sorts of societal issues, but within the Body of Christ, everyone is on equal footing. There are many, both in the Church and out of it, who miss this important point. All sorts of external distinctions are focused on, but as Paul said, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) That is absolutely precedent-shattering, society-transforming truth, but we choke on it all too often. There are differences, certainly. No two humans are identical, even if twins can come close. However, those differences aren’t differences in value. We are so petty and insecure that we tend to find excuses to put other people down, so that we will be inflated in some way. How stupid! All of that is cleared up the more accurate our view is of God. When He is infinite, omnipotent, and omniscient, all human differences fade into total insignificance. I have always liked the Japanese proverbial expression “acorns comparing height.” That’s how stupid our ranking of one another is.

This is something I have tripped up on. I don’t think gender issues bothered me particularly, because my father fully respected my mother, and vice versa. However, I was born with assorted advantages, and I liked them! In my mind I tended to rank people intellectually and linguistically, since those were areas in which I was gifted. I grew up steeped in the Bible, and I put people down in my mind for their Biblical ignorance. Again, how stupid! My gifts are to be shared, and never in pride, but in gratitude. Right now I am confronted with my ignorance of many things American, being about to make my first visit in seven years. The temptation to panic is real! I am not superior in value to the people I will encounter, but neither are they superior to me, simply because of their cultural knowledge. I am to keep my focus on my Lord, and know that we are all of equal value in His sight.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for what You enabled us to do yesterday. Thank You that You will get us through the day today. I ask for Your anointing on both the service and the business meeting, that all that needs to be said will be, and that unnecessary, and particularly hurtful, things will be avoided. Help me be fully present each moment, not totally distracted by thinking about the upcoming trip. May I be an instrument of Your blessing, of Your will being done, each moment, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!