Showing posts with label Classism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Classism. Show all posts

Monday, April 20, 2026

Third Plague: Lice / Third Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Third Plague: Lice / Third Action to Dismantle a Mindset

Exodus 8: 16 So the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.’ ” 17 And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

 

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GOD does a switch up and does not give a warning to Pharaoh. HE goes from making frogs overrun the land to having Moses tell Aaron to use his rod to create lice. Aaron obeyed Moses and struck the dust and lice were everywhere.

 

My Observations:

  • The Egyptians looked down on the Hebrews and could not even eat with them because they felt the Hebrews were unclean.
  • Lice was a form of uncleanliness to the Egyptians.
  • Aaron’s rod was used for the third time to do something supernatural.

 

Shortly after digging wells to get fresh water, frogs came in epic proportions. GOD listened to Moses and allowed the frogs to die. The land stank, but eventually the Egyptians cleaned up the rotting frogs. Just when they thought their homes were restored, GOD told Moses to tell Aaron to strike the dust. Lice were everywhere.

 

This action by GOD came without warning. The first two plagues were used to tell Pharaoh to let GOD’s people go. But this plague was probably performed in front of Pharaoh and his magicians, so that they would know GOD did it. GOD was dismantling the attitude of superiority.

 

Challenge

  • Why do you think GOD went directly into the next plague without warning Pharaoh?
  • Have you learned a skillset and felt superior to other’s who do not possess the skill?
  • Does GOD see you as inferior to other people and if not, then do you feel you are superior?

Friday, March 22, 2024

Entrance Plan

Entrance Plan

1 John 3: 11 The message you heard from the very beginning is this: we must love one another. 12 We must not be like Cain; he belonged to the Evil One and murdered his own brother Abel. Why did Cain murder him? Because the things he himself did were wrong, and the things his brother did were right.

 

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After a colleague was “reduced” from the workforce, I felt enraged. Me and another peer decided to meet with the leader of the organization. We prepared for the meeting by discussing how outraged we were, as if we were putting on combat gear. The meeting kept getting moved, but when we had it, we lit into the leader.

 

  • I was preparing to be heard, not to hear.
  • I was furious and all I could think about was rage.
  • I did not have any room in my heart for the leader we met with.

 

John took everyone back to the foundational action all believers in CHRIST should have, namely “love one another.” He gave the first example of hatred by showing how Cain despised Abel’s “right” actions. He explained that Cain was so consumed with hatred, that he murdered his brother. John may have written this to ward off any feelings of hatred the persecuted people may have had.

 

My Observations:

  • GOD gave the commandment to “love one another” because HE is love.
  • When I take love into places where war is expected, better things happen.
  • GOD’s love is the only cure for the hatred that seems to be spreading more rapidly than usual.

 

Being enraged can cause me permanent damage. I mean, when I get so mad at this person or that person, I am willing to cut him or her off from GOD’s message of love. This requires that I examine my heart, because if I don’t want everyone to believe in CHRIST, I may not be on HIS side.

 

GOD wants everyone redeemed, even those who may have wronged you and me. HIS grace far exceeds any that you and I can imagine. HE loves those who hate people. HIS grace can cover a multitude of sins. I am glad GOD has provided an entrance plan to address arguments, namely love one another.

 

Challenge

  • Why do you think the writer used Cain as the example?
  • Have you ever been so enraged that you did not think of your words or actions which may have been hatred?
  • Instead or preparing for combat, can you take love into your conversations?
  • Will you examine your heart and your words to see if there is any slander, prejudice, judgment or even hatred so you can give them to GOD for HIM to cleanse your heart today?

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

In the Light

In the Light

1 John 2: If we say that we are in the light, yet hate others, we are in the darkness to this very hour. 10 If we love others, we live in the light, and so there is nothing in us that will cause someone else to sin. 11 But if we hate others, we are in the darkness; we walk in it and do not know where we are going, because the darkness has made us blind.

 

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Walking down the dorm hallway, a guy stuck his head out and yelled out a racial slur directed solely at me. This caused me to react, however I was scrawny. I needed help. I found a my 300 pound friend to “help” me with this situation. We pounded on the room door until they opened it.

 

  • I had rage in my heart.
  • I had retaliation in my heart.
  • I wanted to fight to show people, you can’t do this to me or anyone else!

 

John does a masterful job at addressing hatred. He has been with JESUS and watched HIM love every race, age and gender. He saw love at its purest. He gives a reminder to self-examine in order to determine if there is hatred in wounded hearts.

 

My Observations:

  • GOD loves people that I don’t like.
  • GOD wants me to desire that all humans, even people I don’t like, go to heaven.
  • GOD sees any hatred I may harbor in my heart, even if someone has cause me pain through his or her hatred.

 

Hatred brings on more hatred. I mean, when someone has performed an act of overt or passive hatred, I store it in my mind and plan my retaliation. This has never, ever worked! GOD wants me to “chose” a different way.

 

JESUS created humans. They wanted an earthly king who sounded and acted like them. When they found someone who was generous, kind and broke, they could not believe HE was the Messiah that would save the entire world, so they killed HIM out of hatred. HE was raised from the dead out of love. I am glad JESUS is my example and reminder that hatred is a choice. I choose love.

 

Challenge

  • What mindset is the writer trying to address?
  • Have you ever been hurt by a person and wanted to get back at their entire race, age or gender?
  • Will you examine your motives and see if there is even the smallest kernel of masked hatred so you can ask GOD to remove it and fill your heart with HIS love today?

 

Prayer

Dear LORD, our world is filled with hatred for one another today. Please help this reader self-examine any hatred he or she may harbor towards even one person so love can enter the heart and YOUR forgiveness can enter. amen

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Levels of Respect

Levels of Respect

James 2: My friends, as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, you must never treat people in different ways according to their outward appearance. Suppose a rich man wearing a gold ring and fine clothes comes to your meeting, and a poor man in ragged clothes also comes. If you show more respect to the well-dressed man and say to him, “Have this best seat here,” but say to the poor man, “Stand over there, or sit here on the floor by my feet,” then you are guilty of creating distinctions among yourselves and of making judgments based on evil motives.

 

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Upset that I ran into so many homeless people, I decided to do something about it. Instead of giving money, I offered to buy a meal. I proceeded to “tell” the person the Gospel, thinking I had done my job for the day.

 

  • I assumed the person was going to use money for drugs and alcohol.
  • I assumed the person needed to hear a message about CHRIST, when in reality this being could have been an angel that I was not aware of.
  • I assumed “I” had a solution when I may have been contributing to the problem, namely lack of respect.

 

James attempts to address favoritism based on the appearance of wealth. He may have experienced the lack of favoritism based on his appearance. He knew that looking at the outward appearance of people could cause people to make assumptions that are untrue.

 

My Observations:

  • GOD looks at the heart of humans and determines who is truly “good.”
  • GOD sees how I treat people and knows if I treat others differently based on outward appearance.
  • GOD loves when I treat everyone with respect and honor.

 

Treating one set of people different than the next leads to battles. I mean, when I treat people differently because of his or her appearance, I make wrong assumptions about who they are and even worse, I ignore what GOD sees.

 

GOD loves people I may not like. HE sees the inside and has a strong desire for all to be saved. HE loves the poor and does not like when rich people are treated better than them. HE provides opportunities for me to treat the poor the same as I treat the rich, with HIS utmost respect. I am glad GOD is not prejudice and loves me without wavering.

 

Challenge

  • Why does the writer use rich and poor as the example?
  • Have you ever treated someone better based than others because of his or her title, appearance or financial status?
  • Will you treat everyone with the same utmost respect that GOD wants you to so many can hear HIS message of love today? 

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Even and Pure

Even and Pure

1 Timothy 5: 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the holy angels I solemnly call upon you to obey these instructions without showing any prejudice or favor to anyone in anything you do. 22 Be in no hurry to lay hands on people to dedicate them to the Lord's service. Take no part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

 

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Writing ideas on a pad helped me keep track of the things I wanted to come back to. But one day I caught a boss “snooping” around my desk, reading my idea pad. I didn’t say anything and I noticed he mentioned an idea in a meeting. I figured I would get him back by writing absurd ideas that seemed like good ones.

 

  • I wasted so much time trying to trip him up that I did not do my job.
  • I wanted to keep him and people like him away from me.
  • I thought it would be easier to simply meet with likeminded people and share my ideas there and never have to deal with people like him.

 

Paul gives Timothy some sage advice regarding treating people with respect. He knew Timothy would run into people who did not look or act like him. He suggests that Timothy treat everyone “even.” No prejudice and no favor; this way his actions will be without sin or retaliation or deception.

 

My Observations

  • In my “mind”, people can do some things that make me want to sin.
  • GOD wants me to get control of my “mind” and treat people with HIS love and respect.
  • My “mind” is controlled by what is in my heart, so GOD wants me to keep my heart pure.

 

Seeds get planted and grow into trees. The seed of hatred seems to grow faster than the seed of love. My heart is the soil in which the seed can grow. Each seed affects the way I see things. Instead of me asking my snooping boss how I could help him, I tried to hurt him. GOD is the remedy.

 

HE sees people differently than you and me. HE wants “everyone” to be saved and went through great lengths to do so. HE loves, loves, loves the person you may dislike or even hate. HE wants me to treat everyone the same and keep my motives pure. I am glad HE treats me with love.

 

Challenge

  • Why does the writer mention GOD and JESUS in his urge?
  • Have you ever treated someone one way and treated someone else another way and tried to justify this inconsistent action?
  • Will you add pure love to your heart by accepting the HOLY SPIRIT inside so HE can guide your motives to pure love and to treat everyone with the respect GOD wants you to show today?

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Proximity

Proximity

Ephesians 2: 11 You Gentiles by birth—called “the uncircumcised” by the Jews, who call themselves the circumcised (which refers to what men do to their bodies)—remember what you were in the past. 12 At that time you were apart from Christ. You were foreigners and did not belong to God's chosen people. You had no part in the covenants, which were based on God's promises to his people, and you lived in this world without hope and without God. 13 But now, in union with Christ Jesus you, who used to be far away, have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

 

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Feeling “far away” made me not try in many instances. I remember being excited about being in a contest, but when I saw the winner, I gave up. “I will never be able to measure up to that” I said to myself.

 

  • I felt so far away from perfection.
  • I felt so far away from reaching any expectation people had of me.
  • I felt so far away from where “successful” people were.

 

Classism and racism were prevalent amongst the church leaders. Paul explains that the church leaders placed labels on the Gentiles, flaunting their superiority of being “chosen.” They made a point to show just how far away the Gentiles were from GOD. BUT GOD took care of that.

 

My Observations

  • GOD wanted to be close to me so HE allowed JESUS to die for me.
  • JESUS was raised from the dead and sent the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside me.
  • The HOLY SPIRIT pleads on my behalf, guides me to comfort and brings me hope in hopeless situations.

 

JESUS brought me close to HIM by uniting with me and I with HIM. HE took away my sins so there would be no barrier between us. HE declared me clean and to keep me clean, placed HIS SPIRIT inside me. Whenever I sin, HE looks at my heart and sees the HOLY SPIRIT who has already asked for forgiveness for me.

 

The FATHER removes my sins as far as the east is from the west. HE does the same for those who believe in HIS SON. HE cannot get any closer than living inside me, so HE is never far away. HE promised to never leave me nor forsake me. I am glad HE chose to be close to me.

 

Challenge

  • What does the writer imply about racism or classism?
  • Have you ever been labeled so you can be excluded from a group?
  • Have you ever felt far away from GOD?
  • Will you listen to the truth that GOD loves you so much that HE is willing to live inside you and never leave you and is going through what you are going through with you today?

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Shielded from Hatred


Matthew 10: 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

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“Get that Bible off of your desk!” was the exclamation from the account manager. At that time I was taking a theological class and wanted to get my studies in before work. I would arrive at 6:30 AM, thinking I was a model employee, instead I was met with opposition. I did not hang out with the fella’s drinking or carousing. Should I have tried to fit in?

  • Sometimes I’m face with the dilemma of fitting in.
  • Sometimes I am challenged with choosing between following GOD and looking good before humans.
  • Sometimes I face the world with my beliefs and I’m met with being outcast and labeled.


I felt like I was on an island, but something within me said “Keep going, it will be alright.” After a while I was moved from that account. I saw my career diminish so I changed jobs. At the next place I ran into a group of people who would openly pray at lunch. I didn’t think this could exist at a company.

  • GOD wants me to stand firm so HE can deliver me.
  • GOD wants me to stand firm even though people may hate me.
  • GOD wants me to stand firm when I am not quite fitting in.


Instead of compromising my beliefs, GOD wants me to stand firm. HE has a marvelous plan for me on the other side of someone’s hatred. “Standing Firm” on GOD’s word is the shield HE gives me to battle hatred. I can place my belief, trust and faith on GOD and let HIM handle my haters!

  • Are you hated by someone?
  • Do you feel like you are on an island even when you are in a crowd?
  • Can you “Stand Firm” on GOD’s word so HE will fight your battles for you?
  • Will you put your trust in GOD today?


Thursday, October 20, 2016

Douse the Anger


Amos 1: 11 This is what the Lord says:
“For three sins of Edom,
    even for four, I will not relent.
Because he pursued his brother with a sword
    and slaughtered the women of the land,
because his anger raged continually
    and his fury flamed unchecked,
12 I will send fire on Teman
    that will consume the fortresses of Bozrah.”

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Salt chunks kept hitting my windshield as I fruitlessly attempted to pass the salt truck on the icy road. I got angry. When I arrived at work my check stub showed the wrong amount. They had given me too much and I had to give money back. This required extra work on my behalf to correct “their” mistake. I got angrier. When I got back to my desk I noticed my “sneaky” boss looking at some of my stuff. “You know, I really do not like that person!” I thought to myself!

  • Anger starts small and builds to something bigger.
  • Anger turns into negative thoughts and negative thoughts into something else bad.
  • Anger is the beginning of hatred.


Internal rage is very problematic and can leak out at the wrong time towards the wrong people. When I am so full of rage and anger, the day doesn’t seem as bright. I miss out on delightful moments only to replay old tapes of the dog that ate my wax figurine when I was eight. That dog did make me mad!

  • GOD knows I will get angry, but HE does not want it to turn to rage.
  • GOD understands I will be disappointed, but HE does not want me to escalate it to revenge.
  • GOD cares about my worries, but HE does not desire that I exchange my worries into blaming HIM for where I am at.


“Unchecked fury” is a serious problem with GOD. HE sees me brooding over a situation and says to me “Give ME the problem and I will exchange it with peace.” Instead of thinking of ways to “get back” at the person, GOD wants me to think of ways to bring peace to the situation.

He wants me to reflect on HIM being my shepherd and leading me besides still waters and restoring my soul. GOD desires that I have peace. I can trade my anger in for peace daily.

  • Are you bitterly angry at someone?
  • Do you realize you can have peace with “that” person or “those” people if you ask GOD?
  • Will you douse your furious thoughts and ask GOD to lead you to a place of peace?
  • Will you drop your “steering” expectations of GOD and let HIM execute HIS plan HIS way today?


Wednesday, November 11, 2015

I Detest That Person


Proverbs 29: 27 The righteous detest the dishonest;
    the wicked detest the upright.

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After returning to church from years of being away, I decided to clean up my act. I had a long list of habits that I did not want to do anymore. One after another, I dropped certain sins and felt pretty good about myself. I felt so good that I felt I could tell others what they were doing wrong. “If that person would only do x y z then their life would be so much better.” That statement soon turned into “That person is too far gone, there is no hope.”

  • There were times where I thought too highly of my “progress” in life.
  • There were times where I felt “closer” to GOD than I really was.
  • There were times where I added judgement to my righteousness making it like a bloody tampon.


“That person” or “those people” are words that are very easy for me to say. They roll off my tongue like silk and I can say what I want about “them.” Meanwhile I can think “I am better than “them.” Surely “I” would not commit “that” sin like “those people.” BUT GOD saw something different.

  • GOD saw my righteousness and compared it to JESUS’s righteousness and said it does not measure up.
  • GOD said to me “Do not think more highly of yourself otherwise pride will make you fall.”
  • GOD looked at me and told me to “Admit your need for ME and acknowledge ME in all your ways and you will be blessed.”


Now when I see “that person” or “those people” I have to ask GOD “Is that how I’m acting right now?” “Will YOU change my heart to be used in this situation to bring all of us back to YOU?” I need to include myself in “those people” and have compassion.

  • Are you laying down your judgment?
  • Do you feel justified for not liking “those people?”
  • Will you include yourself in the crowd of people you dislike and help them back to GOD?
  • Will you ask GOD to remove your stony heart for those you dislike?”


Thursday, December 20, 2012

Hate is such a strong word!

1 John 2:Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.
10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

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If there is one thing I can’t stand, it’s a bully. I mean it seems like I have run into them all my life.  I mean there was the guy in fifth grade and there was another in high school and some more at work only they bullied with words. 

“I just HATE them” is what I felt so I began pushing back.  I mean bullies aren’t going to push me around anymore! I lifted weights to fend off the physical bully, and learned snappy, cutting retorts to slice down the political bully. Soon I found myself going after these bullies because I could stand toe to toe with them.

  • Mild forms of hatred turn into large forms of hatred with me.
  • Mild forms of hatred are disguised in me as “things I don’t like” about that person.
  • Mild forms of hatred expose themselves when I could care less what happens to the person.

Even when I isolate myself or segregate myself or even separate myself from them it still doesn’t seem to work. I still think about them and stew over what they have done. I don’t want them to have mercy, BUT GOD does.

  • GOD wants me to love people, especially my enemies.
  • GOD wants me to love people, even those who are difficult to love.
  • GOD wants me to love people, ignoring their sin to win them over.

It is not GOD’s wish that anyone perish so why do I give up on that person so easily? GOD desires that I have patience with them because HE has patience with me.

  • Do you dislike someone?
  • Is there someone in your life who just makes you sick?
  • Is there a popular person who you just rile about?
  • Can you turn your thoughts into positive ones for “that” person?
  • Won’t you try to understand GOD’s love for you AND “that” person?

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Do I really “need” GOD?

1 John 1:If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

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No more drinking was my vow to the LORD. I wanted to remain sober to do GOD’s work. No more cursing or cussin’ was my vow to the LORD. I didn’t want to “offend” other people because I was doing GOD’s work. No more offensive jokes wasn’t a vow but I figured I shouldn’t do that either.

Soon I felt like a spiritual giant.  I mean I had rid myself of “all” my sin and I could no longer hang out with the folks who were still “not pleasing” GOD. I could only listen to songs with GOD in it and news from stations where only GOD was mentioned. "Those" people would drag me down and besides, “I stopped sinning, so should they!”

  • There are times where I think I can get “better” from my sinful state.
  • There are times where I think there are different levels of sin and the sin I’m doing isn’t really sin when you compare it to “that” person.
  • There are times where I think I haven’t sinned today simply because I didn’t do the same sin I did yesterday.

It’s real easy to compare myself with others as a measure of “how well I’m doing with GOD.” I mean I see someone serving and I think I should out-serve that person or I hear of someone giving and maybe I should out-give that person.  Soon I’m in an atmosphere where I think I must be pleasing GOD because I’m not only serving people and giving but I’m not sinning too.

I must be doing great with the LORD.  Since I’m not sinning I can “judge” others so they will stop sinning and they will “fit” in with “us.” So why does it feel like I’m running out of energy?

  • GOD wants me to examine myself to realize I will always need HIM to save me.
  • GOD wants me to tell people about my sins to make them feel comfortable enough to confess their sins.
  • GOD wants me to let people know that the more they confess about themselves the larger their ministry will grow.

I was great at the spiritual act. I could put on the “walk on water” face and really look good but I found that I was actually repulsive to others and probably GOD. In fact I acted like I didn’t need GOD because I was already clean! GOD says to me "the only way to healing is by confession." In other words HE can fix me if I admit “I’m” broken.

  • Do you think you are better than “that” person because of a sin they did?
  • Do you think that just because you aren’t doing certain sins then you are clean?
  • Can you examine yourself further to see what barriers you are building up between you and GOD?
  • Could you possibly be facing the sin of “omission” or “exclusion” by not seeking the needs of people who don’t act or look like you?

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Am I as blind as a Pharisee?

James 1: 26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

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“What is that church thinking” I said to a friend. I began to dissect the sermon, their intentions and even the clothes some of the people were wearing. Then I turned to look at other people the next day and began to dissect their clothes, messages and intentions.  I found them all appalling. Everyone else is wrong, right?

  • When I think “those” people are wrong them my religion is worthless to GOD.
  • When I think “my” actions are better than “those” people then my religion is worthless to GOD.
  • When I think “they” are sinners and “they” are falling away then my religion is worthless to GOD.

Quite honestly I am very disappointed with gathering as a collective group because I tend to want to exclude someone who makes me feel uncomfortable. I mean if they don’t listen to my music, dress the way I dress or think the way I think it becomes difficult and I don’t have the energy to deal with “those” people. BUT GOD did it differently.

  • JESUS ate with “those” people and wants me to do the same.
  • JESUS went to “those” people and wants me to seek them as well.
  • JESUS prayed for “those” people and wants me to have enough compassion to pray for them too.

Any time I think “those” people are doing it wrong I forget to include myself in the group. I actually fool myself and believe I am not acting like a Pharisee but in reality I am.  GOD loves HIS humans and wants me to go to “all” humans not just the ones I feel comfortable with. HE wants me to help those in need rather than hanging out in my club.

My little world has been turned upside down because GOD wants me to reduce me for HIM to save “them.”

  • Would the music, news and publications you gravitate toward offend someone who needs CHRIST?
  • Are you a catalyst to drawing many types of people to GOD or only one type?
  • Will you stop looking at “them” for a moment and look at “you” to see if you have become a Pharisee who judges “them?”