One in Christ Jesus

On January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King, Jr. was born.  On January 18, 2016, our nation will observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  While his life was cut short in April of 1968, Americans and people of nations inspired by his legacy recognize the positive impact he made upon our world.  He witnessed and experienced the oppression of a people by those in their shared land.  Then he addressed the problem with, primarily, his gifts of leadership and language. 

His most well-known speech continues to inspire readers and hearers.  With words of conviction and vision, King shared his dream.  In his goosebump-inducing conclusion, Dr. King depicted the results of true freedom.

And when this happens, and when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:  “Free at last!  Free at last!  Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed of a day when All of God’s children would join hands and sing.  In communities of faith, cities, towns, and neighborhoods, his dream is a reality.  But not in all.  As you live your life, do so with commitment to build community with all of God’s children.  Even if you really dislike holding hands and you sing off-key, help – in your way – to make the Dream come true.

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:26-28 (NIV)