Being part of God’s grand design is a wonderful privilege. But it requires encountering differences, and so we need to have courage and humility. We can get so comfortable in our own spheres of church, work, and school, where we interact only with people who are similar to us. It’s comforting to be around familiarity, but when we reach out and communicate with those who need Christ, often we will be interacting with people who are different from us. They probably won’t agree with us. But that isn’t a cause for alarm. We shouldn’t spend time only with those we agree with; how else can we invite others into God’s kingdom and appreciate the diversity within it?

If we are to reach others for Christ, we need to practice listening actively and openly to the concerns, fears, angers, and experiences of people different from us. We need to bravely ask tough questions and be open to humbly hearing the replies. And we need to be ready to be vulnerable, to share our own experiences and the hope our faith in Jesus Christ brings us. We do not have to be afraid of these conversations, for as Jesus said, “Fear not! For I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). In Christ, there is no fear, only love. Our communication and connection should be marked by love and courage, as we are called to connect with those who are different from us and in need of God’s hope.                

This is Luis Palau.