Bias corrodes our ability to love. God calls us to tend to it before it eats away at our witness.
Scripture:
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” — Ephesians 4:22–24 (NIV)
Living Parable:
Think of a tool left outside in the rain. At first, the rust is barely noticeable — a small stain on the surface. But if ignored, the rust spreads quietly, layer by layer, until the tool is brittle and useless. It can no longer do what it was made to do.
Prejudice works the same way. It begins with small stains — a careless joke, an unchecked assumption, a quiet bias that goes unchallenged. Left untended, it corrodes the soul. Over time, it weakens our ability to love, serve, and walk in God’s holiness.
We must remember: God created the garden, not people. Each flower is uniquely different and beautiful, and every life He made carries His image. When we let prejudice take root, it distorts the Creator’s design and blinds us to His glory in others. But when we allow God to renew our minds, He scrapes away the rust, restores the shine, and makes us strong enough to serve again.
Future Study Prompt:
Read Colossians 3:10–11. Reflect: Where might “rust” be forming in me — small prejudices, quiet biases, or unexamined assumptions? How can I invite God to restore my heart so that I can reflect His righteousness and holiness without corrosion?
