Teacher of the Gentiles - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Day 14

What does the Bible have to say about prejudice? What messages of love does God have for all the people and cultures He created? What opportunities does a diverse church of today have in a society still troubled by racism?

The two-week Fearfully and Wonderfully Made daily devotional—based on passages from the NKJV Modern Life Study Bible—will guide you through a series of Biblical excerpts focused on confronting ethnic prejudice. You'll walk through both the Old and New Testaments, discovering a tapestry of cultural connections throughout the historical richness of Scripture and learn about God's promises of love to those who face discrimination and prejudice. From the call of Abraham to the Samaritan woman at the well, find out how the God of Israel has shown himself to be the God of all tribes and nations.

Today’s reading is drawn from 2 Timothy 1:10-11.

Paul was proud of his ethnic heritage, openly embracing his Jewish background and connection to his “forefathers,” people of faith such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and David.

At first this seems to contradict Paul’s earlier words when he called that same background a “loss” and “rubbish” compared to the richness of knowing Christ (Phil. 3:4–8). At times he did harshly criticize his culture, but only at the points where it fostered self-righteous pride, exclusive attitudes, and belief in salvation through keeping rules rather than by faith in Christ. In reality Paul had a healthy perspective of his roots. He valued the positive aspects of his heritage while rejecting its negative sides.

This outlook might have made Paul particularly effective as a “teacher of the Gentiles” (2 Tim. 1:11), a remarkable calling given his training as a Pharisee. As God helped Paul reassess his own ethnicity, He also transformed his disdain for non-Jews. Once Paul understood his own identity, he no longer felt threatened by people of other cultures.

Paul had much to offer Timothy, who came from a mixed background of Jew and Gentile (Acts 16:1–3). He also helps us understand our own backgrounds and the spirit of acceptance we should adopt as members of a diverse culture where racial and ethnic tensions run high.

More: God never asks us to reject our roots. No matter how our culture regards our heritage, we can affirm it as a gift from Him.

This devotional is drawn from the Modern Life Study Bible. Used by permission.

An Extremist Transformed - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Day 13

What does the Bible have to say about prejudice? What messages of love does God have for all the people and cultures He created? What opportunities does a diverse church of today have in a society still troubled by racism?

The two-week Fearfully and Wonderfully Made daily devotional—based on passages from the NKJV Modern Life Study Bible—will guide you through a series of Biblical excerpts focused on confronting ethnic prejudice. You'll walk through both the Old and New Testaments, discovering a tapestry of cultural connections throughout the historical richness of Scripture and learn about God's promises of love to those who face discrimination and prejudice. From the call of Abraham to the Samaritan woman at the well, find out how the God of Israel has shown himself to be the God of all tribes and nations.

Today’s reading is drawn from Galatians 1:13-17.

Paul sets up his message to the Galatians by recounting his dramatic meeting with Christ on the road to Damascus and his subsequent conversion (Acts 9:1–30). In those long hours he must have been under deep emotional strain. He learned that the reports that Jesus had risen were true. He realized he had dedicated his life to killing the Messiah’s followers. It was a life-altering experience for one “advanced in Judaism” and “exceedingly zealous for the traditions” of his fathers (Gal. 1:14).

That may be why God struck Paul with blindness for three days. He had a lot to sort out after meeting the risen Lord. He had to reverse the entire theological basis of his life.

Yet God intended to change more than Paul’s theology. He was determined to transform his extremist view of the world. At the heart of Paul’s intense hatred of the Christian movement might have been a belief that it would destroy Judaism by mixing it with foreign, Gentile elements.

Imagine Paul’s shock when Ananias informed him that God had chosen him to take the message of Christ to none other than the Gentiles (Acts 9:15; 22:14, 15; 26:16–18). Such a task would have been unthinkable. Jews like Paul, who were wholly committed to living by all the laws and traditions of Judaism, had nothing to do with Gentiles (10:28). It took years for Paul to reevaluate his perspective and align it with God’s (9:26–30; 22:17–21).

Paul’s dramatic transformation challenges us to examine the prejudices that keep us from living out God’s love for the world. When we find racial and cultural biases where we live, work, or worship, do we challenge that thinking?—or keep silent?—or worse, go along with hatred or even promote it? Can God use us to take His name to people whom we consider outsiders?

This devotional is drawn from the Modern Life Study Bible. Used by permission.

No Place for Prejudice - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Day 12

What does the Bible have to say about prejudice? What messages of love does God have for all the people and cultures He created? What opportunities does a diverse church of today have in a society still troubled by racism?

The two-week Fearfully and Wonderfully Made daily devotional—based on passages from the NKJV Modern Life Study Bible—will guide you through a series of Biblical excerpts focused on confronting ethnic prejudice. You'll walk through both the Old and New Testaments, discovering a tapestry of cultural connections throughout the historical richness of Scripture and learn about God's promises of love to those who face discrimination and prejudice. From the call of Abraham to the Samaritan woman at the well, find out how the God of Israel has shown himself to be the God of all tribes and nations.

Today’s reading is drawn from Colossians 3:8-11.

Colosse included people from a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds:

• Greeks, whose cultural heritage dominated the Roman world,
• Jews, who prided themselves as God’s chosen people,
• Barbarians, who spoke no Greek and therefore lacked social standing,
• Scythians, a cruel, warlike people from the north, and
• Slaves, workers at the bottom of society.

Members of all of these groups became followers of Christ and joined the community of believers at Colosse. But their ethnic prejudices created problems, which Paul listed (Col. 3:8, 9). He gives these attitudes and behaviors blunt and unattractive names: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, and lying. Paul challenged this culturally mixed group to shed these attitudes and behaviors like old clothes and put on Christ instead. He might have been alluding to a first-century baptismal creed that reminded converts that they were joining a new family in Christ.

God’s family has no place for prejudice. Membership in His family calls for new ways of relating to others, with kindness, humility, meekness, forbearance, and forgiveness (Col. 3:12–17). Whenever we act on these ideals, we take a step toward transforming our church and culture.

More: Paul often challenged new believers to set aside their old ways for a new life in Christ.

This devotional is drawn from the Modern Life Study Bible. Used by permission.

Diverse Opportunities for A Diverse Church - Fearfully andWonderfully Made, Day 11

What does the Bible have to say about prejudice? What messages of love does God have for all the people and cultures He created? What opportunities does a diverse church of today have in a society still troubled by racism?

The two-week Fearfully and Wonderfully Made daily devotional—based on passages from the NKJV Modern Life Study Bible—will guide you through a series of Biblical excerpts focused on confronting ethnic prejudice. You'll walk through both the Old and New Testaments, discovering a tapestry of cultural connections throughout the historical richness of Scripture and learn about God's promises of love to those who face discrimination and prejudice. From the call of Abraham to the Samaritan woman at the well, find out how the God of Israel has shown himself to be the God of all tribes and nations.

Today’s reading is drawn from Acts 15:22-35.

In many nations and especially in the western hemisphere, the church faces an increasingly pluralistic society, and it is highly unlikely we will ever return to a uniform culture, if that ever existed in the first place. But the Book of Acts shows that we can thrive in this new world. The response of the apostolic council at Jerusalem to an influx of Gentile believers demonstrates that Christians must allow for cultural differences if they want their churches to survive.

The collections of people who responded to the gospel and banded together in the first century defy modern market research and principles of church growth. Modern thinking holds that groups of people with similar sociological backgrounds grow larger more quickly than ones with different backgrounds. Some argue that like attracts like, so churches should target people of the same race, demographic profile, and socioeconomic status.

The untidy collection of Christians in Acts upends that idea. Diverse churches sprouted up spontaneously in response to God’s grace.

Diverse Contributions The church offered …

• Advocacy by Barnabas on behalf of Saul (9:26, 27); by Paul and Barnabas on behalf of a slave girl to free her from oppressive masters (16:16–21); and by Ephesian believers on behalf of Apollos (18:27, 28)
• Charity and hospitality, often anonymous and large scale, to meet both social and spiritual needs (2:45; 4:32; 11:29, 30; 28:13–15).
• Ethnic reconciliation as deacons acted on behalf of neglected widows (6:1–6); as Philip carried the gospel across ethnic barriers (8:4–17, 26–40); as Peter met with the Gentile Cornelius and defended his actions to Jewish leaders at Jerusalem (10:1—11:30); as Paul and Barnabas brought together Gentiles and Jews at Antioch in Pisidia (13:46–52); as the council at Jerusalem accepted Gentiles as equals in the faith, sending Judas and Silas as emissaries to welcome them (15:1–35); as Paul recruited Timothy to spread the gospel (16:1–5).

The early church was a diverse, grass-roots movement that drew people together in innovative ways. It moved them toward one another and out into their communities in service and love. Like the early church, the modern body of Christ exists in a pluralistic society full of opportunities for unparalleled innovation and growth.

This devotional is drawn from the Modern Life Study Bible. Used by permission

A New Name for A New Way - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Day 10

What does the Bible have to say about prejudice? What messages of love does God have for all the people and cultures He created? What opportunities does a diverse church of today have in a society still troubled by racism?

The two-week Fearfully and Wonderfully Made daily devotional—based on passages from the NKJV Modern Life Study Bible—will guide you through a series of Biblical excerpts focused on confronting ethnic prejudice. You'll walk through both the Old and New Testaments, discovering a tapestry of cultural connections throughout the historical richness of Scripture and learn about God's promises of love to those who face discrimination and prejudice. From the call of Abraham to the Samaritan woman at the well, find out how the God of Israel has shown himself to be the God of all tribes and nations.

Today’s reading is drawn from Acts 11:26 and John 15:18-25.

As Jesus’ followers grew into a movement, they began to be called “the Way” (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 24:14, 22). The name probably began as a reference to Christ’s statement, “I am the way” (John 14:6). Most members of the Way had Jewish roots. When Antioch saw an infusion from other ethnic groups, however, no one knew what to call the multicultural body. Old ethnic designations—Jews, Greeks, Romans, Gentiles—no longer fit. The Antiochians seized on the one factor that united the diverse community—Christ. Actually, the term Christian, or Christ-follower, began as a sarcastic put-down (Acts 11:26). But the name stuck and became a badge of honor.

Sadly, the term Christian has in recent times again become treated as an insult in popular culture. Some blame the liberal mindset of modern society for looking down on Christians as uptight, naive fanatics with outdated ideas that are irrelevant to modern life. And that mindset is probably partly to blame. But it would be naive to assume that Christians are not also at least partly responsible for damaging their own public image. The early Christians also lived in a liberal age, yet by the second century A.D. they had earned a reputation for being relatable, relevant, and “worthy of admiration.”

Jesus Himself warns us that since we are not of the world, the world will hate us just as it hated Him (John 15:18–25). However, this does not give us permission to hate the world back—Jesus certainly doesn’t (3:16). What we are supposed to do, however, is win people over to Christ. How might we live in such a way as to get the world’s attention for all the right reasons? How might we, through our everyday actions, reflect the glory of the kingdom of God?

This devotional is drawn from the Modern Life Study Bible. Used by permission

Converting Samaritans and Apostles - Fearfully and WonderfullyMade, Day 9

What does the Bible have to say about prejudice? What messages of love does God have for all the people and cultures He created? What opportunities does a diverse church of today have in a society still troubled by racism?

The two-week Fearfully and Wonderfully Made daily devotional—based on passages from the NKJV Modern Life Study Bible—will guide you through a series of Biblical excerpts focused on confronting ethnic prejudice. You'll walk through both the Old and New Testaments, discovering a tapestry of cultural connections throughout the historical richness of Scripture and learn about God's promises of love to those who face discrimination and prejudice. From the call of Abraham to the Samaritan woman at the well, find out how the God of Israel has shown himself to be the God of all tribes and nations.

Today’s reading is drawn from Acts 8:4-25.

Jesus predicted that His disciples would take His message not only to Jerusalem but also to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). But at the start of Acts 8, the church had not yet left Jerusalem. Several years had probably passed since Jesus uttered His command. But it would take persecution to move the Lord’s people to obedience.

Jerusalem was not the apostles’ home. The church had no buildings dedicated for its use. The authorities certainly had not welcomed the presence of their movement. Why were the apostles reluctant to leave?

One leading factor was that the apostles had been raised in a culture that was deeply divided along ethnic lines. Preaching the gospel to Jews in Jerusalem was a manageable challenge. But to preach to Samaritans was worse than difficult. Cultural barriers may have kept the apostles in Jerusalem despite Saul’s persecution (Acts 8:1).

It took a man who was probably a Hellenist (Greek-speaking) Jew to cross the Jewish-Samaritan divide. Philip was a veteran cross-cultural worker (6:1–7) and knew firsthand what it was like to be considered a second-class citizen. When he preached Jesus in the city of Samaria, multitudes responded. The gospel broke through a centuries-old wall of separation.

When news of the revival reached the apostles in Jerusalem, they dispatched Peter and John to investigate. The two Galileans must have been stunned and humbled by what they saw. John, who once wanted to call down fire from heaven on unbelieving Samaritans (Luke 9:52–54), now joined Peter in praying for the Holy Spirit to fall on the new believers.

Ironically, Peter condemned Simon the magician for wanting to purchase the Spirit’s power with money. “I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity,” Peter said (Acts 8:23). Yet a poison of bitterness and bondage of iniquity were also evident in Christians who allowed ethnic differences to keep Samaritans and others from entering the kingdom.

Peter and John returned to Jerusalem changed men. Along the way, they preached in Samaritan villages (8:25). Samaritans were now embracing the gospel, and at least two of the apostles were beginning to embrace Samaritans.

This devotional is drawn from the Modern Life Study Bible. Used by permission.

Ethnic Prejudice Confronted - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Day 8

What does the Bible have to say about prejudice? What messages of love does God have for all the people and cultures He created? What opportunities does a diverse church of today have in a society still troubled by racism?

The two-week Fearfully and Wonderfully Made daily devotional—based on passages from the NKJV Modern Life Study Bible—will guide you through a series of Biblical excerpts focused on confronting ethnic prejudice. You'll walk through both the Old and New Testaments, discovering a tapestry of cultural connections throughout the historical richness of Scripture and learn about God's promises of love to those who face discrimination and prejudice. From the call of Abraham to the Samaritan woman at the well, find out how the God of Israel has shown himself to be the God of all tribes and nations.

Today’s reading is drawn from Acts 6:2-6.

The community of believers at Jerusalem was constantly growing and changing (Acts 1:15; 2:41, 47; 4:4, 32; 5:14). They experienced amazing unity (2:46; 4:32; 5:12), and their sacrificial generosity meant that their material needs were being met (2:45; 4:34, 36).

But a problem with feeding widows threatened to fracture this successful community (6:1). The underlying issue was less about meeting physical needs than simmering ethnic hostility between the Hebrews (Jews born in Judea and Galilee) and the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews born outside of Palestine). Hellenists were despised by many who considered them to be “contaminated” by Gentiles, but Hellenists responded to the gospel in large numbers. The clash could easily have destroyed the church or divided it into separate ethnic communities. But the apostles took steps to head off a crisis.

• They met face-to-face with the Hellenists (the powerful met with the powerless).
• They listened to complaints and acknowledged their legitimacy.
• They worked with the Hellenists to devise guidelines for godly leaders and chose seven whose names suggest they were from the Hellenist minority at Jerusalem.
• They approved and commissioned these new leaders by praying with them, laying their hands on them, and committing to work with them.
• They gave the new leaders authority over the distribution of food for widows.
• They shared power and resources and affirmed the dignity of the newly chosen leaders.


 The result was that “the word of God spread, and … multiplied greatly in Jerusalem” (6:7).

 This devotional is drawn from the Modern Life Study Bible. Used by permission.

Bypassing Samaria - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Day 7

What does the Bible have to say about prejudice? What messages of love does God have for all the people and cultures He created? What opportunities does a diverse church of today have in a society still troubled by racism?

The two-week Fearfully and Wonderfully Made daily devotional—based on passages from the NKJV Modern Life Study Bible—will guide you through a series of Biblical excerpts focused on confronting ethnic prejudice. You'll walk through both the Old and New Testaments, discovering a tapestry of cultural connections throughout the historical richness of Scripture and learn about God's promises of love to those who face discrimination and prejudice. From the call of Abraham to the Samaritan woman at the well, find out how the God of Israel has shown himself to be the God of all tribes and nations.

Today’s reading is drawn from Luke 9:51-56.

Fueled by their prejudice against the Samaritans (John 4:9), Jews commonly bypassed their land by journeying along the east bank of the Jordan River. But traveling south from Galilee to Jerusalem, Jesus and His disciples headed straight through Samaria (Luke 9:52). Jesus deliberately chose the more direct route, as if He welcomed a fight.

Confrontation erupted at the first village. The Samaritans did not want Jesus or His followers there, and the disciples surely did not want to be there. Insulted by the Samaritans’ rejection of Jesus, the disciples offered to call down fire from heaven. They argued that Elijah had done as much.

Centuries of ethnic hatred and bitterness nearly lit the flame of violence. No wonder Jesus emphatically rebuked His followers. He saw that they were blinded by their presumed religious and ethnic superiority. So He reminded them of His mission. He had come not to destroy people but to save them—including the Samaritans.

Christians today may react with condemnation rather than compassion toward people of another ethnicity or ideology. Our differences sometimes arise from legitimate concerns. But if we want to push people out of view or somehow eliminate them from a situation in order to reinforce our ethnic, moral, theological, or spiritual superiority, then we deserve the rebuke that Jesus gave the Twelve: “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of” (9:55). As we read in John 3:17, “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Jesus the Galilean - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Day 6

What does the Bible have to say about prejudice? What messages of love does God have for all the people and cultures He created? What opportunities does a diverse church of today have in a society still troubled by racism?

The two-week Fearfully and Wonderfully Made daily devotional—based on passages from the NKJV Modern Life Study Bible—will guide you through a series of Biblical excerpts focused on confronting ethnic prejudice. You'll walk through both the Old and New Testaments, discovering a tapestry of cultural connections throughout the historical richness of Scripture and learn about God's promises of love to those who face discrimination and prejudice. From the call of Abraham to the Samaritan woman at the well, find out how the God of Israel has shown himself to be the God of all tribes and nations.

Today’s reading is drawn from Mark 1:14, Luke 4:14-19, and John 7:52.

In New Testament times, there were two Galilees, upper and lower. Jesus grew up in the densely populated lower Galilee and carried out most of His ministry in its communities. As many as eleven of His twelve disciples also came from this region. (Judas Iscariot was the one obvious exception.)

Home to a culture that bridged the Hebraic and Graeco-Roman worlds, Galilee existed on the fringes of traditional Jewish life. As a result, Galileans were scorned by their Judean neighbors, who used the term Galilean as a synonym for fool, heathen, sinner, or worse.

Most significantly for Jesus, these neighbors were convinced that no prophet could come from Galilee (John 7:52). Yet from there a Prophet did arise. It was in Galilee that Jesus first outlined His message (Luke 4:14–19) and demonstrated its power. He performed at least thirty-three miracles in the region, and it was there that He told nineteen of His thirty-two recorded parables.

As Jesus traveled around the district, He demonstrated that His message was for everyone, including people excluded from acceptable society. His message did not start at the top and move down. It spread from the bottom up. However, there is little evidence that Jesus’ message took hold in Galilee after He left. The people largely rejected their Prophet and King, and His dire predictions about Capernaum, Chorazin, and other Galilean cities came true (Matt. 11:20–24).

Interracial Marriage - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Day 5

What does the Bible have to say about prejudice? What messages of love does God have for all the people and cultures He created? What opportunities does a diverse church of today have in a society still troubled by racism?

The two-week Fearfully and Wonderfully Made daily devotional—based on passages from the NKJV Modern Life Study Bible—will guide you through a series of Biblical excerpts focused on confronting ethnic prejudice. You'll walk through both the Old and New Testaments, discovering a tapestry of cultural connections throughout the historical richness of Scripture and learn about God's promises of love to those who face discrimination and prejudice. From the call of Abraham to the Samaritan woman at the well, find out how the God of Israel has shown himself to be the God of all tribes and nations. 

Today’s reading is drawn from Song of Solomon 5:10; 1:5-6.

The marriage celebrated in the Song of Solomon appears to have been a match between two members of different ethnic groups. The groom, presumably Solomon, is described as “white and ruddy” (Song 5:10), while the bride is “dark” like the black tents of Kedar (Song 1:5).

Marriages across ethnic and racial lines were not uncommon in the ancient world (for example, Num. 12:1; Ruth 1:4; 1 Kin. 11:1), and the Bible never condemns or prohibits interracial unions. The ancient Israelites were forbidden to marry Canaanites, Ammonites, or Moabites (Deut. 7:1–4; 23:3), but these prohibitions were not based on ethnicity but on religious, moral, and political considerations.

God created all the diverse peoples of the earth. Differences in background and appearance that can be hard for some people to accept are a creation of God Himself. And His love extends to all, so it is unsurprising that His Word includes a celebration of marriage between two people of different ethnicities.

Our Global Lead - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Day 4

What does the Bible have to say about prejudice? What messages of love does God have for all the people and cultures He created? What opportunities does a diverse church of today have in a society still troubled by racism?

The two-week Fearfully and Wonderfully Made daily devotional—based on passages from the NKJV Modern Life Study Bible—will guide you through a series of Biblical excerpts focused on confronting ethnic prejudice. You'll walk through both the Old and New Testaments, discovering a tapestry of cultural connections throughout the historical richness of Scripture and learn about God's promises of love to those who face discrimination and prejudice. From the call of Abraham to the Samaritan woman at the well, find out how the God of Israel has shown himself to be the God of all tribes and nations.

Today’s reading is drawn from Psalm 79:1-7.

God cannot be limited by tribalism or nationalism. He is Lord of the whole world and all its people, and He rules with love, power, justice, and sovereignty.

The Book of Psalms reflects this international scope of God’s activity and involvement with the world. One of the book’s primary themes is His rule over creation (Ps. 8:1; 19:1–6; 24:1, 2). A related theme shows His heart reaching beyond Israel to other tribes and nations (96:1–10; 100:1; 105:1). Sometimes God judges the nations (2:1–9), especially for their mistreatment of His people (79:1–7; 124:1–8), but His wrath results from His justice and righteousness. He demonstrates the same character toward the Israelites when they turn from Him and engage in habitual sin (50:4–23; 78:21, 22).

During the centuries following the Jews’ return from captivity in Babylon, God’s people suffered an increasing spirit of separation that interpreted the world in terms of “us against them.” By the time of Jesus, this national isolation and antagonism toward outsiders had become entrenched in the Israelites’ cultural identity. It took the power of the Holy Spirit to break this barrier so that the gospel could spread throughout the world.

The psalms display wonderful humility about the fact that the Israelites are not the only people God loves. Every nation is invited to worship and serve Him. The Book of Psalms anticipates both the global message of Jesus (John 3:16, 17) and His final rule over all the peoples of the earth (Rev. 5:9–14).

A Promise to Africa - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Day 3

What does the Bible have to say about prejudice? What messages of love does God have for all the people and cultures He created? What opportunities does a diverse church of today have in a society still troubled by racism?
The two-week Fearfully and Wonderfully Made daily devotional—based on passages from the NKJV Modern Life Study Bible—will guide you through a series of Biblical excerpts focused on confronting ethnic prejudice. You'll walk through both the Old and New Testaments, discovering a tapestry of cultural connections throughout the historical richness of Scripture and learn about God's promises of love to those who face discrimination and prejudice. From the call of Abraham to the Samaritan woman at the well, find out how the God of Israel has shown himself to be the God of all tribes and nations.

Today’s reading is drawn from Psalm 68:31 and Acts 8:26-40.

Bringing the ark of God to Jerusalem—the possible setting of Psalm 68—must have made the Israelites feel that they had finally arrived. They were settled in the Promised Land. They were led by a remarkable king. The Lord was their God, and the holy ark assured His presence in Zion.

But David reminded his people that God’s blessings would eventually extend far beyond Israel and its immediate events. Nations throughout the world would hear about the Lord and come to worship Him (Ps. 68:32). They would include even belligerent neighbors like Egyptians and Ethiopians (68:31), who were vying for power as Israel rose to prominence.

The promise of Psalm 68 was at least partially fulfilled in the first century A.D. when the treasurer of Queen Candace of Ethiopia came to Jerusalem. He had started home after worshiping at the feast of Pentecost when he met Philip, who explained to him the news of salvation in Christ.

The treasurer believed and was baptized (Acts 8:26–40). Through that encounter, the news about Jesus reached Africa, and today many Christians in Ethiopia see the treasurer’s conversion as the beginning of their spiritual story. Through him, they feel connected to David, who foresaw the day when Ethiopians would join in the chorus of praising the Lord.

An International House of Prayer - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Day 2

What does the Bible have to say about prejudice? What messages of love does God have for all the people and cultures He created? What opportunities does a diverse church of today have in a society still troubled by racism?

The two-week Fearfully and Wonderfully Made daily devotional—based on passages from the NKJV Modern Life Study Bible—will guide you through a series of Biblical excerpts focused on confronting ethnic prejudice. You'll walk through both the Old and New Testaments, discovering a tapestry of cultural connections throughout the historical richness of Scripture and learn about God's promises of love to those who face discrimination and prejudice. From the call of Abraham to the Samaritan woman at the well, find out how the God of Israel has shown himself to be the God of all tribes and nations.

Today’s reading is drawn from 1 Kings 8:41-43.

Solomon’s prayer dedicating the temple showed that Israel’s God was the God of all nations. The king anticipated that foreigners from throughout the world would be drawn to the house of worship in Jerusalem. He asked God to honor their prayers so that “all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You.”

Solomon’s prayer was soon answered by a visit from the queen of Sheba (1 Kin. 10:1–13). She had heard rumors of Solomon’s splendors but wanted to see them for herself. When she observed all his accomplishments, she praised God for what the king had done for Israel (10:9). Other visitors had similar reactions (see 2 Chr. 6:32, 33).

The temple was situated at Jerusalem, but as Jesus pointed out (quoting Isaiah), it was meant to be “a house of prayer for all nations” (Is. 56:7; Mark 11:17). Likewise, Israel was to bless the nations and light the way toward the one true God (Gen.12:1–3; Is. 51:4).

Jesus also taught His followers to be a light to the world (Matt. 5:14–16). But rather than gathering others to a central place of worship, believers today have been commanded to scatter throughout the earth, taking the news of God’s grace around the world.

Pain that Leads to Prejudice - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Day1

What does the Bible have to say about prejudice? What messages of love does God have for all the people and cultures He created? What opportunities does a diverse church of today have in a society still troubled by racism?

The two-week Fearfully and Wonderfully Made daily devotional—based on passages from the NKJV Modern Life Study Bible—will guide you through a series of Biblical excerpts focused on confronting ethnic prejudice. You'll walk through both the Old and New Testaments, discovering a tapestry of cultural connections throughout the historical richness of Scripture and learn about God's promises of love to those who face discrimination and prejudice. From the call of Abraham to the Samaritan woman at the well, find out how the God of Israel has shown himself to be the God of all tribes and nations.


Today’s reading is drawn from Numbers 20:14-21.

Anyone hurt by a member of a different ethnic or racial group is at risk for developing prejudice against all members of that group. Even slight offenses may powerfully reinforce old biases, as the conflict between Israel and Edom shows.

The king of Edom refused to open the King’s Highway to Moses and his people, a hostile act that likely grew out of a prejudice with roots going back hundreds of years to a feud between two brothers: Jacob, the ancestor of Israel, and Esau, the ancestor of the Edomites. Jacob obtained Esau’s birthright and cheated him out of their father’s blessing (Gen. 27:36). Esau swore he would get even (27:41, 42).

Years later the brothers reconciled (33:4, 10, 11). But until this incident in Numbers 20, the Bible doesn’t again mention Esau’s descendants, the Edomites. Apparently those descendants never forgot the wrongs that Jacob had committed against their ancestor. As the Israelites struggled to traverse the desert, the king of Edom perhaps saw an opportunity for payback.

Refusing Moses’ request made life difficult for the Hebrews. Had Edom let Israel pass, the Israelites may have escaped the fiery serpents (Num. 21:4–9). Worse yet, the Edomites’ action perpetuated hostility between the two ethnic groups. Even though God commanded His people not to “abhor” an Edomite (Deut. 23:7, 8), the Israelites did not stop nursing their hurt feelings. Later, Saul harassed the Edomites (1 Sam. 14:47). David slaughtered thousands of Edomites (2 Sam. 8:13, 14, according to some manuscripts) and turned their land into a military possession. David’s general Joab then carried out a campaign of genocide against them (1 Kin. 11:15, 16).

The cycle of hate continued for centuries. Even the baby Jesus felt its impact: King Herod, who ordered the slaughter of infants at Bethlehem (Matt. 2:16–18), was descended from the Edomites.

Whatever our race or ethnic group, as Christ’s followers we are called to break the cycle of prejudice. If we are offended or attacked by someone of another race or nationality, we gain nothing by amplifying our pain into general mistrust and hatred of an entire group of people. Rather than furthering stereotypes, we can reach out and seek better understanding.

More: Christians aren’t immune to racial and ethnic biases. Christ wants us to guard against prejudice to keep it from compromising our integrity as His people.