What if ... ALL men were created by God regardless of their appearance or stature among men?
The Apostle Paul:
“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries." Acts 17:24-26 (NLT)
The Apostle Paul:
“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries." Acts 17:24-26 (NLT)
What if ... we discovered that we had no right to create lines of division where Father God has said none exist?
The Apostle Peter:
The Apostle Peter:
"Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.” " Acts 10:28-29 (NLT)
What if ... carelessly judging others brought judgment on our own heads?
Jesus:
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others.a The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged." Matthew 7:1-2 (NLT)
What if ... we were tempted to consider ourselves more highly than ...?
The Apostle Paul:
"Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other." Romans 12:3-5 (NLT)
What if ... our judgment of our own righteousness is flawed?
The Apostle Paul:
"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard." Romans 3:23 (NLT)
The Prophet Isaiah:
"We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind." Isaiah 64:6 (NLT)
What if ... we were given a powerful, divine directive concerning how we should treat others?
Jesus:
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets."
What if???
Consider carefully ...
... What if we're being watched carefully by HE whose word we disregard?
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”
Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NLT)
I'm far from perfect and am learning to gauge my responses according to a directive far superior to my own. I for one thank God for His grace through Jesus Christ and pray that I remain humbled by it before Him forever - never losing sight of the weight of it's cost to Him or ever being found failing in true gratitude for it. The "what ifs" in this life under His watchful eye give me cause for pause. The choices in this life are opportunities to demonstrate our willingness to submit ourselves back to the One who gave us life in the first place. We must choose with great care. The proof of our heart's intent and the divine summary of our lives may well be written by them.
"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NLT)
Jesus:
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others.a The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged." Matthew 7:1-2 (NLT)
What if ... we were tempted to consider ourselves more highly than ...?
The Apostle Paul:
"Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other." Romans 12:3-5 (NLT)
What if ... our judgment of our own righteousness is flawed?
The Apostle Paul:
"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard." Romans 3:23 (NLT)
The Prophet Isaiah:
"We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind." Isaiah 64:6 (NLT)
What if ... we were given a powerful, divine directive concerning how we should treat others?
Jesus:
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets."
What if???
Consider carefully ...
... What if we're being watched carefully by HE whose word we disregard?
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”
Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NLT)
I'm far from perfect and am learning to gauge my responses according to a directive far superior to my own. I for one thank God for His grace through Jesus Christ and pray that I remain humbled by it before Him forever - never losing sight of the weight of it's cost to Him or ever being found failing in true gratitude for it. The "what ifs" in this life under His watchful eye give me cause for pause. The choices in this life are opportunities to demonstrate our willingness to submit ourselves back to the One who gave us life in the first place. We must choose with great care. The proof of our heart's intent and the divine summary of our lives may well be written by them.
"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NLT)
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