21 Jan, 2008
"I Have A Dream...."
Martin Luther King, Jr., emerged as a leader of the American civil rights movement after organizing the famous 1955 bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama. Throughout his career he pressed for equal treatment and improved circumstances for blacks, organizing nonviolent protests and delivering powerful speeches on the necessity of eradicating institutional racial inequalities. In 1963 King led a peaceful march between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, where he delivered his most famous speech, “I Have a Dream.”
photo & text courtesy images.google.com & encarta.msn.com, 01/19/08
Do we share his dream?
Philemon 1:10-12
10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.
Philemon 1:25
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. (ESV)
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about the key to experiencing racial reconciliation?
Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes provide this insight:
1:25 Paul urged Philemon to be reconciled to his slave, receiving him as a brother and fellow member of God's family. Reconciliation means reestablishing relationship. Christ has reconciled us to God and to others. Many barriers come between people - race, social status, sex, personality differences - but Christ can break down these barriers. Jesus Christ changed Onesimus's relationship to Philemon from slave to brother. Christ can transform our most hopeless relationships into deep and loving friendships.
Martin Luther King's dream can become a reality only through the power of Jesus Christ.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Thank God that in Jesus Christ, all of His followers are truly one family. Confess any prejudice you have toward others because of racial, economic, or political differences. Ask Christ to work through you to remove barriers between others.
- Pray every day to be like Jesus to everyone you know and meet.
- Write down specific ways you are allowing barriers toward other people to keep you from being like Jesus. Keep this on your prayer list and let God's Spirit change your heart.
- Read the book of Philemon to get the whole story.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and our story to others?
- Get together with friends and/or family members and go online to listen to the "I HAVE A DREAM" speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. Afterwards, talk about what you learned in today's DAILYBIDE.
- Identify someone with whom you need reconciliation. Start today.
- Ask Jesus to give you His insight in looking for the opportunity to learn the stories of three people with a racial background different than yours.
- May 2012 [11]
- April 2012 [19]
- March 2012 [21]
- February 2012 [19]
- January 2012 [18]
- December 2011 [20]
- November 2011 [15]
- October 2011 [15]
- September 2011 [14]
- August 2011 [22]
- July 2011 [19]
- June 2011 [21]
- May 2011 [20]
- April 2011 [20]
- March 2011 [21]
- February 2011 [20]
- January 2011 [21]
- December 2010 [21]
- November 2010 [21]
- October 2010 [21]
- September 2010 [22]
- August 2010 [21]
- July 2010 [22]
- June 2010 [20]
- May 2010 [18]
- April 2010 [20]
- March 2010 [23]
- February 2010 [19]
- January 2010 [22]
- December 2009 [22]
- November 2009 [21]
- October 2009 [22]
- September 2009 [21]
- August 2009 [20]
- July 2009 [21]
- June 2009 [22]
- May 2009 [18]
- April 2009 [15]
- March 2009 [7]
- February 2009 [17]
- January 2009 [20]
- December 2008 [23]
- November 2008 [19]
- October 2008 [22]
- September 2008 [22]
- August 2008 [19]
- July 2008 [22]
- June 2008 [11]
- May 2008 [19]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [18]
- January 2008 [20]
- December 2007 [18]
- November 2007 [15]
- October 2007 [19]
- September 2007 [18]
- August 2007 [12]
- July 2007 [12]
- June 2007 [9]
- May 2007 [11]
- April 2007 [10]
- March 2007 [11]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [4]
- November 2006 [13]
- October 2006 [17]
- September 2006 [11]
- August 2006 [16]
- July 2006 [10]
- June 2006 [3]
