Black lives indisputably matter. They eternally matter to God and must matter to us. The Word of God proclaims this:
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Our black brothers, sisters, and neighbors all over the world are eternal beings made in the image of God (Gen 1:27).
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They possess intrinsic dignity, value, and honor, being fearfully and wonderfully made by God (Psalm 139:13-16).
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“Precious” toward them are the thoughts of God (Psalm 139:17).
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They are deeply loved by God (John 3:16).
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They were made with the eternal purpose to bring glory to God (Isaiah 43:7).
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The Son of God came to seek and save them from sin and death by living perfectly, suffering unjustly, dying sacrificially, and rising victoriously in their place (Luke 19:10; 24:44-47; 1 Pet 2:21-25).
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God desires each of them to repent and be saved through faith in this spotless Son of God (2 Pet 3:9, 1 Tim 2:4).
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Jesus freely offers himself to them as their all-satisfying Living Water, and they can come and drink without price (John 4:14, 7:37; Rev. 22:17).
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Our black brothers and sisters in the church have been brought near by the blood of Jesus, ushered into the one body of Christ, and have access to the Father by the one Spirit (Eph 2:12-18).
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God is opening the eyes of black folks to the believe the gospel each day (2 Cor 4:6), making them adopted children of God (Rom 8:15; Eph 1:4-5), raising them to be heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17), and making them partakers of every single one of his precious promises (2 Pet 1:3-4).
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Jesus will soon return to bring perfect righteousness, justice, and freedom for his oppressed black children (Psalm 99:13; 103:6; Rev 21:1-8).
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And for all eternity black voices from every tribe, nation, and language, will join in the chorus of heaven around the throne of Christ, singing: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!” (Rev. 5:9-12).
Therefore,
Let us love our black neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:31).
Let us consider their interests as more important than our own (Phil 2:3-4).
Let us carry out the ministry of reconciliation with our black neighbors, brothers, sisters (2 Cor. 5:20-21).
Let us be quick to listen to them and slow to speak (James 1:19).
Let us have the compassion of our Savior toward them (Matt 9:35-37).
Let us rejoice when they rejoice and weep when they weep (Rom 12:15)
Let us stop for them when they are hurting and bind up their wounds (Luke 10:34).
Let us lay down our lives to serve them as a reflection of Christ (Mark 10:45)
Let us invite them to sit around our table and learn from them (Luke 15:2).
Let us be encouraged by their faith (Rom 1:12).
Let us bear their burdens (Gal 6:2).
Let us celebrate when one of black neighbors is made alive in Christ (Luke 15:22-24).
Let us walk with them as we do justice, love kindness, and walk with humbly with our God (Micah 6:8)
Now, “teach me your way O Lord, that I walk in your truth, unite my heart to fear your name.” Psalm 86:11