I had an interesting conversation while out hiking with a friend. A little grey squirrel had darted on to the path and my friend exclaimed how she hated squirrels. I thought hate was a rather strong emotion towards these little creatures our Father God created, but as she went on to describe how squirrels constantly tear up her beautiful garden, I began to understand where these hostile feelings originated from.

It’s like how I felt for some time about seagulls.

While visiting my daughter in Vancouver, we had stopped for lunch, and I decided to have my first taste of authentic seaside fish and chips. I purchased the meal at an outdoor venue and wandered out to the patio to find a picnic table. It was then that I was viciously accosted by a group of seagulls. They devoured my lunch within seconds. I did not think favourable thoughts towards seagulls for quite some time.

These two simple examples of how we may form unfavourable opinions or feelings about something may seem quite innocent, however, these same types of thoughts when formed about someone made in God’s image, become extremely dangerous. In either case, the description of these feelings falls under the title of prejudice. The results of prejudicial feelings about a person or people group have huge implications. One only needs to turn on the daily news to see how far-reaching and utterly devastating the effects of prejudicial actions are in our world.

In reading the story about Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch found in Acts 8:26-39, I was intrigued by the way Phillip was obedient to the Spirit’s command to approach this man. This was possibly someone whom Phillip would not have normally interacted with. The gentleman was from a different race. Yet, in verse 30 it says that Phillip ran up to the chariot. Who knows what Phillip’s agenda may have been for that day, but he certainly tossed it out the window. What a display of obedience to God’s call. Phillip took the time to interact with the Ethiopian. He asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading from the book of Isaiah and then he shared the good news about Jesus with him. Phillip continued to travel with his new brother in Christ until they came to some water and then Phillip baptized him.

We see no hesitation on the part of Phillip interacting with someone from another culture. Phillip listened, he discerned, he shared, and he took all the time that was needed to win this soul for Christ. If Phillip had any pre-conceived feelings about this man, there is no evidence that anything other than the love of Christ was displayed.

May Jesus help us to love the way He loves, with abandonment and grace. For God so loved the whole world that He gave His all, that whoever believes that He is Lord will have eternal life.

May we in turn display love for all that He has made … perhaps that even includes squirrels and seagulls, but most certainly it includes all those made in God’s image, which means everyone!

Susan Page is the daughter of the King, His beloved child, wonderfully forgiven and blessed! Susan longs to age gracefully, becoming more like Jesus as she seeks the hidden treasures revealed to her through Scripture, literature, the arts, humankind, and nature.