Of one blood

God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; - Acts 17.24-27

  

Paul wasted no time in explaining who this ‘unknown God’ was. He says that the 'Unknown God' is the God who made the world and everything in it. He is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn't dwell in temples and can't be represented with idols. He doesn't need anything. He is the one who gives life and breath.

In just a few choice words Paul really summarises who the Athenians unknown God is. He is the unique one true God.

After these words about the authority of God the first thing we read about God is that though He has indeed ordained man’s times and places and borders and where man will live one thing stands out.

We are all one. We are all of one blood and our common creator is God.

Man seems to always find a way to find someone to hate just because there are different. We tend to accept hate if their skin is the wrong colour or they are from a different place or have a difference accent or worship another religion or any other of a number of sorry and sinful excuses.

I am disgusted at the pejoratives and hate filled names that we, even we Christians, can find to use against others who are of the same blood as we are and have the same Creator God. Yes, we must condemn and can never excuse unrighteousness, but that never excuses the hatred and vitriol that can pour out from 'Christian' lips.

It is probably no longer considered politically correct, but the great old children’s song had it right. Jesus does indeed love all the children of the world – red and yellow, black and white they are all precious in His sight. Jesus loves them; English, Irish, Dutch and Jew, Russian and Italian too.

If Jesus loves them who are we to express hatred against them?