People: What We Have in Common

The Five Minute Friday word for this week is people. What came to my mind is not all the differences but how we are alike.

People are PEOPLE are people are PeOpLe are pEoPlE. We come in all shapes and forms, different colors, with different likes and dislikes. But we are ALL human beings. ALL created in God’s image by our Creator.

Genesis 1:26-27 (CSB)

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”

So God created man
in his own image;
he created him in the image of God;
he created them male and female.

Why can’t everyone see that? What if, instead of majoring on differences, we looked to see how we are the same? Color or shape doesn’t determine what our bodily functions are like. My heart functions just like anyone else’s regardless of color. And every other body function is the same no matter where you live or what you look like.

All People are Important

No one has the right to determine if a certain color or shape makes one more important than another. We are all equal before God. If everyone would acknowledge that truth, and treat each other with respect, just think how our society would be transformed!

All people are important. Nothing I do or say makes me better than anyone else. Why can’t we all treat each other with respect? Let’s read what scripture says:

Philippians 2:3-8 (CSB)

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.[a]
7 Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.

Let’s all stop and think. What can we do to put into practice treating each person we meet with respect ? The golden rule would be good to remember here. We can treat each other the way we would like to be treated.

Even if we hold completely different views, we can still be friends and have conversations that help us try to understand each other.

People are Unique Individuals

We should celebrate our differences as people. God made us each unique individuals with our own talents and abilities. If we all bring our own contributions to the table, think of the diversity and joy we can find in sharing.

Even our disabilities do not make us “less than” anyone else. We are all humans, created in God’s image and have much to share, if only people would listen and open the door.

I would like to challenge each one of us to see others the way God sees them – all equal and all unique. Find someone who might not always agree with you or look like you and reach out. Really listen and be interested in what they have to share.

We might be blessed far more than we can imagine by making room for everyone at the table.

I’m linking up with: #FiveMinuteFriday

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