This morning, as I think about the famous speech, with which we are ALL SO familiar, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin..." I am truthfully not moved by these words. Why? Am I a racist? Not hardly, because these words, alone, are incomplete. Lets continue on. “...They will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character,” these are the words with power.
We live in a world of pointing fingers-a politically correct world that has no concern for character, only appearance. “You can't say that, you sound...” or you can't do that, you look...” We say we want to be equal, and that we want to be TREATED equally, and that sounds nice. However, those are emphases on OTHERS actions. This morning, in my prayer for this great nation, I am praying not that I am treated equally, or others are treated equally; I am praying with this in mind...
Romans 5:3-5 – “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
The people who lived through the civil rights movement had been through great trials, ones that I cannot possibly understand. Through those trials, however, they gained endurance, and through endurance, they gained character. So, I am sure that MLK, Jr., had great insight, that many of these people could be judged on his or her character, and be found worthy.
Fast forward 52 years later. In our PC world, we are so quick to yell, “that offends me!” We give trophies to every player, we are afraid to speak truth, because truth can be offensive. We are a people who demand respect, without having the character of being worthy of respect. We vote for candidates BECAUSE they are black, or white, or a man, or a woman, instead of on MLK, Jr's wise criteria, “content of their character.” We won't be real with people because of the way we might be PERCEIVED, instead of doing what is right. Truth is truth, even when it's offensive. Love is love, even when it's tough.
The challenge this morning, is not to change the world. The challenge, on this great holiday, is to change yourself. Don't get angry when people are unfair to you. The way people treat you has NEVER been an indicator of your character, only a reflection of theirs. Don't scream injustice if you don't get what you want. Be the kind of person that people want to hire, and promote. Be the kind of person that lifts up others, and prays for them, EVEN when they persecute you. Know in your heart that you are valuable, and you are WORTHY, because you are a child of God.
This is not a Washington agenda, or company policy. Character can not come from legislation. It only comes from you. You are the ONLY person in the world who has power to change your character. Once you change, people around you will see your lead, and naturally follow. Be the person your want to follow. Be the leader this world needs. And once we all take that personal responsibility to be in charge of our own character, change in the world will follow. When that happens, we will live in a world, that when judged by our character, we will be found worthy!
Let me leave you with the words of another great leader...
“What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.” -Mother Teresa
Start at home, in your own heart and in your own family. Teach your children to have value for themselves and for others, and social change will happen.
Have a BLESSED HOLIDAY!
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