The Other Side

Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and is in all.  Colossians 3:11

other:  a: being the one (as of two or more) remaining or not included; held on with one hand and waved with the other one  b: being the one or ones distinct from that or those first mentioned or implied; taller than the other boys  c: second; every other day*

The Scripture verse in Colossians 3:11 above is one that seems to stick with my thoughts about the word other.  However, I’m not entirely sure why except that God says in His word that we are all His creation.  He sees no nationality or skin color or gender or any other demographic as other than the beauty of His creativity.

And then in Colossians, the idea which seems to shatter the divisions, which other implies, is the statement:

Christ is all is in all.

So, this word – other.

When we first moved into our neighborhood seventeen years ago, our sons were elementary age youngsters.  My husband and I along with our sons were thrilled to move into a house on a quiet cul de sac with a huge backyard in which they could just run and play to their hearts’ content.

Our neighborhood is large and built on both sides of a busy two-lane road.  Nonetheless, we are the same neighborhood, with the same HOA, and the same pool and tennis amenities offering the same favorable reputation for family living in a highly ranked school system.  Or so we thought until our youngsters began to tell us what an unfortunate choice we had made to buy a house on the ‘other side’.

We did live on the smaller side of the subdivision, and true, the pool and tennis courts were across the busy two-lane street.  Also true, the children on our side of the neighborhood attended a different elementary school than the children on the other side of the street.  And yet, once all of the children matriculated out of elementary school they all attended one middle and one high school.

And so, we talked often with our sons about this idea of living on the ‘other side’.  The truth of which we continually reminded our family was this:

• the houses on both sides of the road were all basically the same skeletal structure
• quality crafted with unique outward details
• all called by the same subdivision name
• And most importantly built by the same builder.

I guess I’ll wrap it up here, and hopefully, someone other than me might benefit from pondering these thoughts.  It’s unfortunate that our sons felt a bit less than friends who lived on the ‘other side’.  It’s a sad realization that we live in such a comparison culture.  I catch myself battling that temptation.

Now that they are adults, our sons recognize the truth and the same goodness of their one neighborhood divided by a busy two-lane road.  They have fond memories of their days of riding bikes, football and baseball in the backyard, kick the can and flashlight tag with neighbors.  The truly funny thing?  Our family still lovingly refers to the location of our house as ‘on the other side’ of Cedar Creek.

Ponders:

We are all created – all human beings – no matter where we live or what we look like – in the image of Father God, Creator of all life.

So God created human beings in His own image.  In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.  Genesis 1:27 nlt

God made all of us out of all the same material of skin and bone, veins and blood, cells and genes, and skeletal design.  All in His image.  All uniquely crafted.  All purposely designed by the loving Creator.

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
    He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
for through Him, God created everything
    in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
    and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
    Everything was created through Him and for Him.  Colossians 1:15-16 nlt

Truly God in His majesty, sovereignty, and holiness is Other.  There is none like Him.  No other who would qualify as His equal.

Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:9-11 nlt

Do these scriptures cause you to ponder the idea of God’s otherliness?  What thoughts do you have regarding yourself, others and the idea God has created all of us in His image, but there is none like Him?

Is there an idea above, which you would like to continue to bring before the Lord and learn at His feet, from His word and by prayer in the spirit?

Thanks for pondering with me.

Eyes on Jesus… you’re shining!

~Lisa

*Merriam-Webster.com

Congratulations, Kate Motaung, on the release of your new book.  Please click here to purchase A Place to Land by Kate Motaung.  You’re going to be so glad you’ve added this book to your reading collection.

Today I am joining Kate and her wonderful community of faith writers for some Five Minute Friday writing fun.  The word prompt for this week is {release}  If you’re in the least bit intrigued by this concept of writing five minutes on one word, come join us for the Five Minute Friday link up

All you have to do is ponder the word prompt, set your timer for 5:00, and start typing. When time’s up, publish and link up.  Really it’s ok that it’s not even Friday anymore.  Jump in with me.  Oh so simple!