Faith in Action: Embracing Unity and Justice

Devotional

Day 1: Longing for God in Troubled Times

Just as the psalmist’s soul thirsts for God amid distress, we too can find ourselves yearning for God’s presence when life feels overwhelming or uncertain. The honest questions and tears of Psalm 42 remind us that it is natural to feel downcast or disturbed, but we are invited to remember God’s faithfulness and to put our hope in Him, even when answers seem far away. In seasons of confusion, grief, or anxiety—whether from personal struggles or the turmoil of the world around us—God welcomes our honest prayers and promises to meet us with hope and steadfast love. [07:40]

Psalm 42:1-5 (NIV)
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Reflection: When you feel overwhelmed by the news or by personal struggles, what would it look like for you to honestly pour out your soul to God today and ask Him to meet you in your longing?

Day 2: Our Identity as Children of God

Through faith in Christ, we are no longer defined by old divisions or by the labels others place on us; instead, we are named as God’s beloved children. This identity is not something we earn by following rules or by our own efforts, but is a gift of grace, rooted in the promise given to Abraham and fulfilled in Jesus. When we truly embrace that we are children of God—and that every person we meet is as well—it transforms how we see ourselves and others, inviting us to live with dignity, humility, and love. [47:17]

Galatians 3:26-29 (CEB)
You are all God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus. All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Now, if you belong to Christ, then indeed you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.

Reflection: Place a note somewhere visible today that says, “I am a child of God, and so is everyone I will meet.” How does this truth affect the way you interact with yourself and others?

Day 3: Chosen and Set Apart for a Purpose

God’s people are not chosen to be elevated above others, but are set apart—consecrated—for a unique purpose: to reveal God’s love and presence to the world. This “otherness” is not about superiority, but about being willing to live differently, to embody God’s values, and to be a vessel through which God’s grace and justice are made known. In Christ, we are called to embrace our set-apartness not as a badge of pride, but as a calling to serve, love, and reflect God’s character in all we do. [50:35]

Deuteronomy 7:6 (ESV)
For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

Reflection: In what specific way can you live out your “set-apart” calling today—showing God’s love or justice in a place where it is needed?

Day 4: Putting on Christ Daily with Humility and Love

To be clothed in Christ is a daily, intentional act—one that involves humility, service, and a willingness to love others as Jesus did. This means seeing others as worthy of love and sacrifice, serving those who are different from us, and seeking God’s will even when it is difficult or unclear. It also means allowing scripture, tradition, experience, and reason to shape our understanding, and above all, letting love guide our actions, knowing that love covers a multitude of mistakes when our hearts are set on doing good. [59:30]

Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Reflection: What is one practical way you can “put on Christ” today—especially in a situation where it would be easier to act out of pride or self-interest?

Day 5: Embracing Unity in Diversity

In Christ, all the old barriers—ethnic, social, gender—are transcended, not erased, so that we can celebrate the beautiful diversity God has created while living in unity as one family. Recognizing and honoring our differences, rather than ignoring them, allows us to see the full image of God in each person and to learn from one another. The closer we move toward this vision of unity in diversity, the closer we come to God’s heart and the more we reflect His kingdom in the world. [01:08:48]

Revelation 7:9 (ESV)
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.

Reflection: Who in your life is different from you in background, culture, or perspective? How can you intentionally listen to and learn from them this week, seeing them as a beloved child of God?

Sermon Summary

In a world filled with uncertainty, conflict, and questions about faith’s role in public life, the longing for God remains as deep and persistent as the psalmist’s thirst in Psalm 42. The soul’s yearning for God is not isolated from the realities of the world; rather, faith is meant to be lived out in the midst of complex social, political, and personal challenges. The call is to let faith inform our responses to the world’s events, not as a means to secure blessings for ourselves, but as a way to embody the love and justice of Christ.

The conversation around war, peace, and national identity is not new to the Christian tradition. The United Methodist Church’s social principles remind us to deplore war and seek peace, urging us to exhaust every diplomatic avenue before resorting to violence. Christians are called to wrestle with these issues in conscience, honoring both those who serve in the military and those who, out of conviction, choose nonviolence. The church’s role is to support all who are affected by war and to advocate for justice and peacemaking.

Turning to Paul’s letter to the Galatians, the heart of Christian identity is found not in law-keeping or external distinctions, but in faith in Christ. The law served as a custodian, preparing the way for faith, but now all are children of God through faith in Jesus. This identity transcends all human divisions—ethnic, social, gender—uniting all in Christ. To be “clothed in Christ” is to put on humility, to serve others, and to see every person as a beloved child of God, worthy of love and dignity.

Baptism is a sign of this new identity and belonging. It is not a private act, but a communal one, incorporating each person into the family of God. The church is called to live as this family, embracing both the beauty and the challenge of our differences. The invitation is to let the truth—“I am a child of God, and so is everyone I meet”—shape our interactions, our self-understanding, and our witness in the world. In doing so, we move closer to God’s vision of unity and love, learning from the diversity God has created and striving to see others as Christ sees them.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith is not lived in isolation from the world’s realities. The call to follow Christ means engaging honestly with the questions and challenges of our time, allowing faith to shape our responses to war, injustice, and suffering. This requires discernment, humility, and a willingness to seek God’s guidance in the midst of uncertainty. [21:05]
2. The Christian approach to war and peace is rooted in a deep yearning for justice and reconciliation. While Christians may differ on the ethics of military service or pacifism, the church is called to support all who are affected by conflict and to advocate for nonviolent transformation wherever possible. This commitment is not about simplistic answers, but about wrestling faithfully with the complexities of our world. [28:48]
3. Our identity as children of God is a gift received by faith, not by our own efforts or adherence to religious law. Paul’s message to the Galatians is that salvation is by grace alone, and that all who are in Christ are united beyond all human distinctions. This truth challenges us to let go of labels and to embrace the radical inclusivity of God’s family. [47:17]
4. To be “clothed in Christ” is a daily, intentional act of humility, service, and love. It means seeing others as Christ sees them—worthy of sacrifice, dignity, and compassion—even when they are different from us. This calling invites us to move beyond self-interest and to embody the mind and heart of Jesus in our relationships and actions. [59:30]
5. The unity described in Galatians does not erase our differences, but reframes them within the love of Christ. True Christian community celebrates diversity as a reflection of God’s creativity, while insisting that no distinction—ethnic, social, or gender—can divide those who are in Christ. The closer we come to living out this unity, the closer we draw to the heart of God. [68:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Psalm 42: The Soul’s Longing
[03:45] - Faith and the World: Bible and Newspaper
[07:30] - Honest Questions at the Farmer’s Market
[12:20] - Blessings, Israel, and Biblical Context
[17:55] - The Moabite Story and Blessing/Cursing
[21:05] - Wrestling with War and Peace
[28:48] - Prayers for a Troubled World
[30:36] - The Lord’s Prayer and Community
[33:00] - Offering and Mission
[36:10] - Children’s Time: Faith and Law
[44:29] - Caring for Each Other in Practical Ways
[47:17] - Galatians: Faith, Law, and Identity
[50:35] - Chosen, Consecrated, and Set Apart
[54:26] - Faith, Trust, and Righteousness
[56:55] - Living as Children of God
[59:30] - Clothed in Christ: Humility and Service
[64:55] - Love Your Enemies: Jesus’ Radical Call
[68:48] - Unity in Diversity: One in Christ
[71:14] - Benediction and Sending Forth

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 42:1-5 — "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, 'Where is your God?' These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

- Galatians 3:23-29
"Before faith came, we were guarded under the law, locked up until faith that was coming would be revealed, so that the law became our custodian until Christ, so that we might be made righteous by faith. But now that faith has come, we’re no longer under a custodian. You are all God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus. All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Now, if you belong to Christ, then indeed you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise."

Observation Questions

In Psalm 42, what images does the psalmist use to describe their longing for God? How does this longing show up in their daily life?
According to Galatians 3, what was the purpose of the law before Christ came?
What does Paul say happens to our identity when we are baptized into Christ?
In the sermon, what examples were given of real-life questions people have about faith and current events?

Interpretation Questions

The psalmist’s longing for God is described as a deep thirst. What does this say about the human need for God, especially in times of trouble or uncertainty?
Paul says that in Christ, there is “neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female.” What does this mean for how Christians should view differences among people?
The sermon talked about faith not being lived in isolation from the world’s realities. How does the idea of being “clothed in Christ” help us respond to difficult issues like war, injustice, or suffering?
The United Methodist Church’s social principles urge Christians to seek peace and support all affected by war, whether they serve in the military or choose nonviolence. Why is it important for the church to hold space for both perspectives?

Application Questions

The psalmist’s longing for God was not separate from their struggles. When you face uncertainty or hard news in the world, how do you bring your faith into those moments? Is there a specific situation this week where you can invite God into your response?
The sermon challenged us to let the truth “I am a child of God, and so is everyone I meet” shape our interactions. Think of a recent encounter where you struggled to see someone this way. How might remembering this truth change your next interaction with them?
The church is called to support both those who serve in the military and those who choose nonviolence. Do you find it difficult to honor people with different convictions about war and peace? What would it look like to support someone whose view is different from yours?
Paul says being “clothed in Christ” means putting on humility and serving others. Is there a relationship or situation in your life where you need to practice more humility or service? What is one step you can take this week?
The sermon mentioned that baptism is not just a private act but a way of joining God’s family. How does being part of a church family help you live out your faith? Is there someone in your church family you can encourage or help this week?
The unity described in Galatians doesn’t erase our differences but reframes them in Christ’s love. Are there differences (ethnic, social, gender, etc.) that you find hard to embrace in others? What is one way you can celebrate the diversity in your church or community?
The sermon suggested using the phrase “I am a child of God, and so is everyone I meet” as a daily reminder. Would you be willing to try this for a week? How do you think it might affect your self-understanding and your interactions with others?

Sermon Clips

If we're only doing something because of what we think that end result's going to be, and we're going to get something out of it, we may be missing the whole point of it. [00:21:49]

I would also say if you're going to hang your theology on one Bible verse, the Bible says this, please have a broader context of what that verse is. [00:21:57]

The church deplores war and all other forms of violent conflict and urges the peaceful settlement of all disputes and I think most of us would agree with that I hope we yearn for the day when there will be no more war and people will live together in peace and justice. [00:25:13]

We urge all United Methodist to examine their own conscience and earnestly seek God's guidance when it comes to matters of war and military service. [00:26:38]

We honor and offer support to those who have chosen military service as a result of personal conviction and urge that they perform their duties in harmony with the tenets of the Christian faith and in accordance with the laws of the Geneva Convention. [00:26:47]

We also honor and support the witness of pacifists whose conscious and religious convictions prevent them from serving in the military or limit them to taking non -combatant roles. [00:27:02]

As a church we commit ourselves to support all people and how they discern how best to model a non -violent example of Jesus. [00:27:12]

We urge the church to care and work for some systematic justice for all people affected by war and to advocate for peacemaking and nonviolent conflict transformation in global and local conflicts. [00:27:36]

To be a Christian, there are some laws that you have to follow. There's some things you have to do if you're going to be a Christian, right? And they had a list of what those things were. And what Paul wanted to say is, wait a minute, we don't do those things for salvation, right? That we are only saved by one thing, and that is by faith. [00:46:06]

Salvation is by grace, and it's God's free gift offered to everyone. And that's what Paul wanted to focus on as you read the book of Galatians. [00:46:43]

You are all God's children through faith in Christ Jesus. All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [00:47:17]

It's not that I'm elevating this group of people to be better than anybody else. It's that I'm setting them apart. And in that set apartness, there's going to be some different things they're going to follow to show just how different they are until God shows up through them because Jesus was born through this Israelite people, right? So in that set apartness, we kind of have this understanding not of being better than, but being other than. [00:52:53]

Faith is how we're living out our life in the midst of all of these things we see on the news and everything else going on in our lives. Faith is how we keep going with a diagnosis that we sure didn't want to hear or a treatment plan that is so difficult we're not sure how we're going to get through it or just not knowing where things are going to come from to be able to pay the next bill. Faith is just stepping out and trusting. [00:54:01]

Abraham is said to have been made righteous by faith. And that's in Genesis, and we're going to get into this promise and the fact that Paul mentioned Abraham here. Abraham lived before Jesus, and Paul says that he was made righteous by his faith. It wasn't by doing a bunch of stuff. It wasn't by keeping a whole long list of rules. It was simply by trusting in God. [00:54:33]

Paul says here that we are all children of God through Christ Jesus. I, again, ask you just to take that and use it this past, this upcoming week, and just see if it changes in any way how we are addressing people or how we are realizing it. Because maybe that's part of the big point of all this. It's not that you're not a child of God. It's just realizing that you are. [00:56:32]

The thief on the cross in that story where Jesus is crucified and there's one thief who is deriding Jesus and there is another thief who is like, you know, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And it's that thief that we talk about. And he's always labeled as the thief on the cross. But really, I think he's a child of God on the cross. He just didn't know it yet. [00:57:01]

Baptism is belonging to this family that you have. And that's a word that I hear a lot when people talk about church is the word family. And for some churches, you might be related to three quarters of the people here. In other churches, maybe you're not related by blood to anyone, but there's something deeper than that in this idea of family. [00:57:57]

In baptism it's about a community commitment we don't baptize in isolation if someone was like you know I want to get baptized but I don't want anybody else around and I only want you at you know three o 'clock on a Tuesday down by the river um or at midnight so nobody sees us whatever it is well that's not baptism if baptism is an incorporation into the body of Christ because in our baptism liturgy it's not just about what the person who is baptized being baptized does or the parents or guardians who are bringing their child to be baptized it's also about what you do right and what I do it's about all of us understanding this beautiful moment of this individual is a child of God and somehow they're responding to God's action in their life. [01:00:45]

What does it mean to be clothed into Christ? How do we put on Jesus every day? Because it's a daily thing right? You can't just put on Jesus one day you got put on Jesus every day sometimes we need to get dressed throughout redress throughout the day and put Jesus back on because we took Jesus off before we said that thing to that person because we forgot just for a second that they are a child of God as well. [01:01:43]

If our focus is on to borrow Heather's words again loving God and loving other people I think the love covers a multitude of sins let's go ahead and throw that passage of scripture out that I love as well and it doesn't mean that love is um covering things that I'm intentionally doing wrong but that love is covering a lot of my mistakes if I'm simply trying to do the right thing and I get it wrong but I was trying to do it first and foremost in love. [01:02:41]

What does it mean to have the mind of Jesus? Well, it means, one, I think, to kind of do some of the things that Jesus did, but also to see other people as willing to die for. That's a hard one. Not just your children, because most parents would do anything for their children, and definitely not your grandchildren, because all of us would do anything for the grandchild, even if we wouldn't do it for the child. But I mean the other people, right? The ones who look different, talk different, dress different, whatever it is. It's how do we see them? [01:03:21]

I think putting on Christ means that we serve other people, right? John chapter 15, Jesus kind of gave us that example of what real service looks like. But throughout the life of Jesus, I think that's what he's doing, is giving the example of what serving other people actually looks like. [01:03:58]

I think being clothed in Christ means that we're trying to follow the will of God, even when that's really hard, and even when maybe we don't understand it completely. [01:04:13]

Ultimately, I think it's just to love people. In Matthew chapter 5, we've got Jesus having what's called the Sermon on the Mount. It's the longest recorded sermon of Jesus in the Bible, Matthew chapter 5 through 7. And right after Jesus talking about an eye for an eye, which is the way that some people understood retribution, like if you do this thing to me, then I'm going to retaliate in just measure. Jesus says, you've heard that it was said, love your neighbor and hate your enemy. Here's the really cool thing. When you read Leviticus chapter 19 verse 18, it doesn't say love your neighbor and hate your enemy. It just says, love your neighbor. [01:05:48]

So Jesus said, you've heard it said, love your neighbors and hate your enemy, but I tell you, here's where Jesus is going to flip the script. Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. [01:07:26]

This verse is not diminishing or doing away with the differences, but this verse is saying that in Christ Jesus, we are all one. We are united. Should you see the color of another person? Absolutely. That's how God made them, right? Should we elevate one person over another person because of that difference? No, we should not. But we should recognize it and allow them an opportunity to celebrate it. [01:09:00]

The closer we get to that verse, the closer we get to God. The further away we get from that verse, I believe the further away we get from the heart of God as well. So in all of this, my prayer for us is that as we see other people, we truly see them as a child of God who is loved by God, who is worth to die for, and who we could learn a whole lot from if we actually take the time to shut up, see the beauty of who they are, and listen. [01:09:53]

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