In 1945, the New York State Commission Against Discrimination was established.

In 1945, New York became the first state in the country to establish an agency that would assist people who had been treated unfairly because of race, creed, or ethnic background. The State Commission Against Discrimination was given a mission to prevent and eliminate discrimination on the job; to investigate and solve fairly complaints of illegal discrimination; and to develop a human rights legislation and policy for the state. Since it began the Commission has handled thousands of complaints charging discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and housing.

It’s unfortunate that people treat others unfairly. Sometimes people slight others just because they are different, and give people like themselves preferential treatment. But in God’s family playing favorites is not allowed. God tells us that all people are created in his image—that means we all are worthy in his sight. There are no differences between groups of people or individuals in God’s eyes. (See Genesis 1:26, 27.)

When Paul wrote to the believers in Colosse, he reminded them that it didn’t matter if a person was Jewish or Greek, a slave or free, male or female. Everyone was the same in Jesus. That same truth applies to us today. If we belong to Jesus, there should not be barriers between people based on nationality, education, race, wealth, or power. As members of Jesus’ family, we should be about the business of building bridges between people, not walls. Whether we’re at church, at school, or in our neighborhood, we should see people the way Jesus sees them.

In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11, NLT).

To Do

Take time this week to intentionally reach out to someone of a different nationality, race, or ethnic background.

Also on this day . . .

Today is Canada Day.

1863—The Battle of Gettysburg began.

1963—Zip codes were used for the first time.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005).