What are you doing for others? That question hits me straight in the heart. What am I doing for others? Am I offering the gifts that the Lord has blessed me with to help those around me? Am I reaching out to classmates, family members, friends, teammates, strangers... anyone who so desperately needs contact with a genuinely concerned human being? Am I loving others the way that I know that Jesus Christ loves me? Most importantly, am I living my life as a sacrifice for Jesus Christ who gave the ultimate sacrifice for me by living a life of service and sincere compassion for those around me?
I just so happened to rent the movie The Butler last night, not evening having a single thought about the next day (today) being Martin Luther King Day. I had seen previews for the movie awhile back when I went to the movie theater to see a different movie. I am sort of a history buff, and find the Civil Rights Movement quite interesting, so I thought, why not give it a try? I was immediately captivated by the movie, to the point that I felt I was living it as a reality. Tears were shed, my heart raced on and off for 2 hours straight, I felt beads of sweat rolling down my face in times of nerves, and I experienced shear joy in my heart as the movie came to a close as the efforts of so many African American men and women finally had been paid off when the nation finally granted African Americans legitimate freedom, and the nation's first African American president was elected.
When I think about the efforts made by African Americans just to be able to attend the same schools, restaurants, stores, entertainment facilities, use the same bathrooms, drink out of the same water fountains, etc. as white Americans, it brings me mixed emotions. The dedication, passion and sacrifice of so many African American men and women brings me hope and joy that there are people out there that will fight for what they know is right, despite the consequences. These men and women fought, even to the expense of their own lives at times, because they wanted generations of the future to live in harmony as a mixed-race society. They persevered to make it known that color is color, we all have a color. I am white, I have friends that are tan, friends that are black, friends that are brown, but regardless of what color we are, we are all people, and above all else, we are all children of the Most High King. The Civil Rights Movement and the actions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. bring me sorrow as I reflect upon the awful consequences and treatment that African Americans had to endure, and many of those awful treatments, being imposed by Caucasian Christians. The thought of someone that claims to know and serve the Almighty, loving, perfect God and then turning around and torturing those that have a darker skin color makes me sick. It hurts my heart so much.
Regardless of who you are or what color your skin is, you need to know that you, yes you, are a child of the Most High King. You are loved unconditionally by a perfect God who gave the life of His son, His only son, just for you. Your worth is beyond measure, and you have a purpose in this life.
As a Christian, I want to do my best to love like Jesus loves. I want to serve like Jesus served. I want to sacrifice for the one who sacrificed so much for me, and I want to be in community with anyone that Jesus brings upon my path, whether that be someone with white skin, black skin, tan skin or brown skin. We are all equal in the eyes of Christ, and I am so thankful for courageous leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the many other Civil Rights activists who sacrificed so much just to prove that very fact. May the efforts of Dr. King and all other activists never be forgotten, and as Christians, may we embrace the love that Jesus offers us, and share that love with everyone we come into contact with, no matter who that may be!
I just so happened to rent the movie The Butler last night, not evening having a single thought about the next day (today) being Martin Luther King Day. I had seen previews for the movie awhile back when I went to the movie theater to see a different movie. I am sort of a history buff, and find the Civil Rights Movement quite interesting, so I thought, why not give it a try? I was immediately captivated by the movie, to the point that I felt I was living it as a reality. Tears were shed, my heart raced on and off for 2 hours straight, I felt beads of sweat rolling down my face in times of nerves, and I experienced shear joy in my heart as the movie came to a close as the efforts of so many African American men and women finally had been paid off when the nation finally granted African Americans legitimate freedom, and the nation's first African American president was elected.
When I think about the efforts made by African Americans just to be able to attend the same schools, restaurants, stores, entertainment facilities, use the same bathrooms, drink out of the same water fountains, etc. as white Americans, it brings me mixed emotions. The dedication, passion and sacrifice of so many African American men and women brings me hope and joy that there are people out there that will fight for what they know is right, despite the consequences. These men and women fought, even to the expense of their own lives at times, because they wanted generations of the future to live in harmony as a mixed-race society. They persevered to make it known that color is color, we all have a color. I am white, I have friends that are tan, friends that are black, friends that are brown, but regardless of what color we are, we are all people, and above all else, we are all children of the Most High King. The Civil Rights Movement and the actions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. bring me sorrow as I reflect upon the awful consequences and treatment that African Americans had to endure, and many of those awful treatments, being imposed by Caucasian Christians. The thought of someone that claims to know and serve the Almighty, loving, perfect God and then turning around and torturing those that have a darker skin color makes me sick. It hurts my heart so much.
Regardless of who you are or what color your skin is, you need to know that you, yes you, are a child of the Most High King. You are loved unconditionally by a perfect God who gave the life of His son, His only son, just for you. Your worth is beyond measure, and you have a purpose in this life.
As a Christian, I want to do my best to love like Jesus loves. I want to serve like Jesus served. I want to sacrifice for the one who sacrificed so much for me, and I want to be in community with anyone that Jesus brings upon my path, whether that be someone with white skin, black skin, tan skin or brown skin. We are all equal in the eyes of Christ, and I am so thankful for courageous leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the many other Civil Rights activists who sacrificed so much just to prove that very fact. May the efforts of Dr. King and all other activists never be forgotten, and as Christians, may we embrace the love that Jesus offers us, and share that love with everyone we come into contact with, no matter who that may be!
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