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Does the bible say to treat everyone equally? Yes, see Romans 3:22-24 (Deaf Bible). “God makes people right through their faith in Jesus Christ. God does this for all people that believe in Christ. All people are the same. All people have sinned and are not good enough for God’s glory. People are made right with God by His grace (kindness).”

Christians, it is time for us to mature in the ways of God. Daily, we need to meditate on His words, find the truth in them, and apply those truths to our lives – moment by moment. It is time to stop being spoon-fed by someone else and start putting into practice the gift of self-control.

The Ark was called in February to minister especially to people who are homeless during the pandemic. Since then, we’ve been continuing to practice that gift of self-control.

From deaf ministry newsletters, I became aware of problems that masks were causing for people who are deaf. If you can’t see mouths, you can’t speech read. If you can’t see faces, you can’t interpret the emotion conveyed in sign language.

I confessed in my church that, although I teach deaf-signing and work with deaf people, I failed to SEE that mask issue. I asked God to forgive me and asked my church to pray. A month later, deaf ministry newsletters were praising God for helping them learn, grow, and find new ways of meeting ALL their needs.

Like me, our friends who are deaf had to learn new disciplines and daily, consistently pray with God’s loving kindness. We are more alike than different.

Praying without ceasing is a biblical mandate. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Thank you, Father, for new awareness. This new awareness caused me to search out other bible verses about equality to learn truly to love everyone. God’s word is truth, clearly telling us that all people – male and female, and all colors and ethnicities –We need to treat others the same way we want them to treat us.

We need the same attitude as Jesus Christ. In Genesis 1:26-28 (Deaf Bible) we hear: “Then God said, ‘Now let’s make man. We will make people as a copy of ourselves. People will be like us’ …So God made people in His own image. God made people a copy of Himself. God made male and female. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Have many children. Fill the earth and take control of it …rule over every living thing that moves on earth.”

So how do we learn to respect everyone? We look at them and treat them with the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16) How do we take on the mind of Christ? Carefully reserve time for fellowship each day with Him. This won’t just happen. You must plan it and intentionally do it. Jesus had to determine to go to Jerusalem. He had to steadfastly set himself to GO. Determine to treat others with respect and kindness, then do it! Jesus listened for God’s instructions, read the scriptures, and expected Father God to bless him. He had a teachable spirit! Do you?

Like me, you may need to alter some ways of thinking and doing. Determine to do it and then do it.

“My brothers, practice the faith of our Lord Yeshua, the glorious Messiah, without showing favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your Synagogue wearing gold rings and fancy clothes and also, a poor man comes in dressed in rags.  If you show more respect to the man wearing fancy clothes and say to him, ‘Have this good seat here,’ while to the poor man you say ‘You, stand over there,’ or ‘sit down on the floor by my feet,’ then aren’t you creating distinctions among yourselves, and haven’t you made yourselves into judges with evil motives?

If you truly attain the goal of Kingdom Torah, in conformity with the passage that says, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.  But if you show favoritism, your actions constitute sin…what good is it…if someone claims to have faith but has no actions to prove it…” (James 2:1-14, Complete Jewish Bible/CJB)

My daughter, Sharee, and her husband gave me a Complete Jewish Bible on Mother’s Day 2000.  Today, I was led to read this same scripture in seven Bibles. Translations from Hebrew and Greek into English (etc.) often give a more clear understanding of His meaning.

God wants to restore us to right relationships with himself. Restoration (of us to God, of our nation to Him, of the world’s cultures and religions) requires recovery from one-sided views. We can’t show favoritism only to our point of view!

When we discriminate in social or financial status, the Recovery Devotional Bible, James 2:9 says, “If you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.” That is because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.  Mercy triumphs over judgement.

Every single life matters to God!  Each one is created in God’s image. Read Matthew 22:15-22 (NRSV). “…You teach the way of God in accordance with truth, show deference to no one; for You do not regard people with partiality… give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s and to God the things that are God’s.”

We have a responsibility to love our neighbor and help care for them and their well being. Every contact, every interaction is an opportunity to glorify our Creator and make God’s love real! How will we share and carry the image of God in our lives? Can we rest in Him and His word?

Pandemic times have shown Garry and me the need to rest in Him. We made a change and are enjoying keeping the Sabbath Holy. On the Sabbath, we do not follow worldly habits and ways of work, work, work!  Look up Sabbath in a concordance where many scriptures describe it and consider what God wants from you when keeping the day holy.

That full day is one of no cooking, yard mowing, laundry, rushing, rushing, rushing to do car maintenance, be on electronic devices, computers, cell phones… For us, Sabbath is God and family day – a day of rest in Him! Resting in Him is a necessary part of what restores us to Him. Take a deep breath. Exhale s l o w l y… Rest… and know that God is with you.

Thank God for this time of seeing people who are healing from the Coronavirus, even while others are becoming ill.  We continue to learn and mature. 

Christ must completely fill our lives! It is our choice whether to be controlled by our bodily desires or the Holy Spirit’s leading. Christ lives in all of us when we receive, believe, and know He chose each of us. Now, “whatever we say or do should be done in the name of Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of Him.” (Colossians 3:17 CEV)  Christ now gives meaning to your life. (Colossians 3:4)  We should each “Do our work willingly, as though…serving the Lord Himself.” (Colossians 3:23 CEV) Paul was in prison as he wrote this letter. By our experience of isolation, we need to give up certain desires and our worship should be directed to Christ!  

Paul, and each of us, were chosen by God to be faithful followers. He even says in Colossians 1:2 ”I pray that God our Father will be kind to you and will bless you with peace.”  He adds, in verse 9, “We have not stopped praying for you…In fact, I always pray that God will show you everything He wants you to do and that you may have all the wisdom and understanding that His Spirit gives.  Then you will live a life that honors the Lord and you will always please Him by doing good…”  

Come to know God even better.  His glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything and you will be happy.”  Christ suffered for each of us and Paul did too. “God’s plan was to make me [and you] a servant of His church and to send each to preach His complete message…” (Colossians 1:25)  God’s desire that each of us “announce the message about Christ…and use all our wisdom to warn and teach everyone, so that all of Christ’s followers will grow and become mature.” (v 28)  Together, we are being matured.

Like Paul, we have been going through life’s problems and difficulties. My mother and father struggled through Infantile Paralysis (Polio) with my baby brother.  Frankie was sent to Oklahoma City and isolated for 3 months in the crippled children’s hospital. No visits. No known details or cures. But God honored my mama’s prayers and strong belief that Frankie would not die, or be paralyzed from the neck down, or in an iron lung for life.  

Christ brings new life. He did it then, and still does today. “Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator and you will understand Him better…all that matters… He lives in all of us.” (Colossians 3:10, CEV) 

Yes, love is the key. “…with thankful hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of Him.” (Colossians 3:16-17 CEV) 

I may sound repetitive, but the Spirit leads me to continually remind us that we, as believers, must be restrained, disciplined, and vigilant. We should focus on Father God, Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit! We need to work daily to be Christ-like, with a heart for serving others and efforts each day to stay spiritually aware of our own relationship with our Sovereign Lord.

This will give God glory, and that is our purpose in this life. As His children, we must do this together to overcome evil in our lives because Satan is running rampant, causing discontent, hatred, and violence. We look around and see illness, and racial and social injustice everywhere.

When giving the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says of His Father: “He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45b, ESV) Just before that, in v. 43-45a he reminded them: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”

God is both merciful and just. He is merciful when he gives sunshine and rain to everyone, not just those who follow him. He gives justice when he allows us to suffer the consequences of our choices to disobey, dishonor, and disrespect Him, others, and ourselves.

Christians have a choice to love like Jesus did. We are not puppets but we are asked to treat each other well so it might go well with us. “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5, NIV)

But how to get His mindset? Keep reading and acting on word of God.

Continue to seek Father God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for truth, wisdom, and guidance in all things. Pray daily. Pray without ceasing. Be active and intentional about seeking God’s will instead of our own control, comfort, and convenience. In these ways we can be better to each other and choose godly leadership in our churches, cities, states, and countries. The Spirit will help us discern the truth so we can become doers of the Word, not hearers only.

Ask the Lord about your part in overcoming the globally spreading virus. Become a part of God’s healing process…a doer of the word, not a hearer only!

Recognize God loves you! Ask Him about your part in overcoming hatred of people who are different from us. Be part of God’s reconciliation process… a doer of the word, not a hearer only! Recognize God loves you! Ask about your part in overcoming political divides that prevent us from working together for the good of us all. Be part of God’s justice process… a doer of the word, not a hearer only! Recognize God loves you!

We need to take control of our thoughts. In all this unknown, we cannot allow fear to take over and move in feelings as of failure…change any thought from failure to success. Stop saying “Woe is me!” Instead say, “Even though I suffer, I am saved!” Choose God’s will! Be Christ-like with scripture and prayer we practice and seek God’s will over and in all we do.

“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” (Romans 8:28, AMP)

We need to remind ourselves daily of good things – of victories in our lives – and not allow evil to enter in!

Praise God in the midst of setbacks, failures, and disappointments. Victory is ours!  By feeding the homeless and encouraging them through the Word, we are being blessed!  We are receiving His blessing and learning to appreciate more!  It is exciting that I am learning to truly appreciate each homeless person I meet and also what we have. People who are homeless are sharing their joy in helping others. They are counting their blessings including food and safety at the Ark, power in Father God’s name, and following the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Yes, God works good and bad together for His purpose. As we focus on victories and see the miracles – pallets of strawberries, carrots, bottled water and soft drinks, a truck load of (150) watermelons – we are strengthened in confidence!

Together, we are developing our faith walk!  We are being perfected and refined.  Homeless people are not just being served, they are also helping to serve others and saying they find joy in that. Together, we are learning to . give and to receive from each other.

We see the miracles of unexpected food provisions; we praise Our God!  Remember, every good and perfect gift comes from Him! (James 1:17, KJV) We praise and thank Him for His and man’s favor. (Proverbs 3:4, NIV) The same verse in the Amplified Bible says: “So shall you find favor, good understanding and high esteem…”  Thank you, Father God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.

I am appreciating and learning more about giving with people who are homeless. As Proverbs 11:25 says: “Be generous, and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped.”

Another favorite on this topic is: “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38, ESV)

Again, Romans 8:28 speaks of His Purposes – God’s purpose not ours. His fulfillment is having created the “mind of Christ in each of us” to glorify Him.  To develop Christ’s mind, attitude, and self-control we must let The Perfector (the Holy Spirit) do His work and we must seek alone time with Father God.  Worldwide, we are put in a situation where we now can have daily alone time with God. Let’s thank Him for the good and the bad. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit for help and strength to put away wrong thinking, badmouthing, and fear. Let’s do it in Jesus’ name.

God’s promise, according to Isaiah 44:3 (AMP) says: ”…I will pour My Spirit upon your offspring, and My blessings upon your descendants.”  John 7:37-39 recalls that promise when telling of the feast day where Jesus called for anyone who is thirsty to come to him and drink. Are you thirsty? Come to him. Drink in His Spirit.

I am compelled to write and to encourage all believers at this uncertain time under the Coronavirus pandemic. I am asked to maintain a true servant’s heart.  We must be watchful of our needs and needs of others.  Together we can and will overcome. 

Satan comes as a thief to rob, steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:7-10) As Christians, we can’t give in to Satan’s lies or our fears and feelings.  We must continue to speak God’s word which does not go out void but will come about successfully.  (Isaiah 55:11) As we continue to practice and do God’s word, we will discern the truth and become doers – not hearers only.  (James 1:22)  

What is our individual part in overcoming this worldwide Coronavirus attack?  We are to follow the prevention rules faith, use-filled action and continue to actively speak faith daily. That means confessing that Jesus is Lord. It means claiming health by the blood of this Lamb (Jesus) and making sure the words of our testimony speak the positive promises He made instead of talking about negativity. Doing these things, we will see that we are healed. 

It is time to take control of our thoughts; to not let fear take over and express doubt and unbelief.  We need to recognize God loves each of us and each of us may be saved by the blood of The Lamb and the word of our testimony. 

I repeat: We need to take control of our thoughts!  In all this unknown, we cannot allow fear to take over. We cannot wallow in feelings of weakness or failure. We must change our thoughts to success and speak positively. We do have that control. What we say is what we get.  The results obedience to God, His Word, and the directives of those in authority will train us with experience to choose God’s will and words. 

We are told to listen to the words of the wise daily whether at work or play.  Practice makes perfect!  The more we practice seeking God’s will, the more we improve in action and response. 

The Psalmist says we must be willing to let God search our hearts. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:2-24) 

Above all, in these strange and difficult times we must not accept being overwhelmed or discouraged.  This is an ongoing process… an ongoing and step-by-step process. God’s loving grace will cover you throughout this whole process.  Our loving heavenly Father will guide each of us, all the way. In James 4:8 the scripture says to draw nigh (come close) to God and He will draw nigh to you.  

When Jesus spoke, He meant literally what He spoke.  “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s shall save it.” (Matthew 16:24 and Luke 9:23)