An English proverb says: Birds of a feather flock together. In Afrikaans, we say ons dam se ganse (the geese that belong in our dam). I suspect this is true for all of us. We choose friends that are more or less like us. We choose schools for our children where the education is the way we prefer it to be. We go to a church where we feel comfortable with the way in which the Word is preached.

I suspect there is nothing wrong with hanging out with the same geese on the dam. What is wrong, however, is when we start looking down on other geese who hang out at other dams. We’re quick to comment on people who stay on this or that side of the town. We’re quick to label someone who’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere in his or her life. We often have something to say about someone else’s possessions. Yes, go and listen again to the chats you had with friends recently.

And actually, this is not what this is about at all. This is a lesson all of us can take to heart today: ¹¹All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.

Do you see how easily we focus on the wrong things in other people’s lives? Nothing of this matters to God. God has only one question: How much space do you have for Christ in your life? Is Christ at the centre of your life? That is all that matters.

We must have the same passion as God. We have to ask one question only when we look at other people: Does Christ take centre stage in your life? Christ gives value to your life. Only Christ. Not a car. Not a house. Not the clothes you wear. Not even who your friends are. None of these things can give you value. Only Christ gives you value.

Do you know how valuable you are to God? You have so much value that He was prepared to sacrifice his most valuable possession, Jesus, so that you don’t have to pay for your sins with your life. That is how incredibly valuable you are.

But what about the people around you who do not have Jesus in their lives?

It is our responsibility to introduce Jesus to them through the way we live. Our conduct must make them long for Jesus, so that later on they can also invite Him into their lives. Maybe you will be the only one who shows Jesus to them.

May God help us to live in such a way that Jesus also becomes part of those around us so that more and more birds of a feather can flock together.

Scripture

Colossians 3:9-11

Reflection

How do you see others?

Are there people around you who do not share Jesus as a common factor with you?

How can you introduce Jesus to them?

Prayer

Father, we often struggle to distinguish between what is valuable and what really counts. Thank you for reminding us today that all that is important to You is that Jesus Christ should form part of our lives. May we look at one another with the same attitude. Amen.