Uncovering the Cover Girl, Pt. III
- S Oliver
- Sep 2
- 4 min read
Being Open-Minded, Unbiased, and Valuing Others
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other. (Romans 12:9-10)
Welcome back to our Uncovering the Cover Girl summer series! If you’ve been walking with me through parts one and two, you know I’ve been peeling back the layers of what it really means to live authentically—not being a “cover girl” but walking confidently in who God made you to be.
Today, I am diving into the last three matters of what it means to be authentic: being open-minded, being unbiased, and valuing others. Believe it or not, these elements of authenticity are deeply Biblical and incredibly freeing when we choose to live them out. So, let’s talk about it.
First, being open-minded doesn’t mean that you just go with the flow and toss away God’s truth. To the contrary, the word of God is your anchor. It is God’s word that will guide you and instruct you. Sometimes, however, you can create strongholds by allowing yourself to get stuck in a certain way of thinking. That becomes your comfort zone, and you don’t allow God to stretch and challenge you; yet that is the only way to grow and mature in Christ.
Do you remember in Acts 10 that Peter was convinced that certain food and even certain people (Gentiles) were off-limits? God gave him a vision that completely blew his mind. Through the vision, Peter learned that nothing and no one was unclean. He learned that nothing that God made is unclean. This shifted his thinking and behavior from obeying the Old Testament law to walking in the grace of the New Testament and allow the gospel to be spread from nation to nation.
For you, an open mind might look like listening fully to someone’s story before rushing to judgement. It could be trying something new or just admitting you don’t know and don’t have all the answers. Being open-minded is being humble enough to receive input, insights, and instructions from others regardless of who you may think they are. You just may miss God’s blessing for your life because you have misjudged the vessel carrying it.
Second, being unbiased. Now that’s a hard one!! I think all people have preferences but biases can sneak in you find yourself elevating certain people over others because of their appearance, position, or status. In James 2:9, the author calls out bias as sin loudly and clearly. He says, “If you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.”
But can we be real for a moment? It’s easy to be partial to people who look like you, act like you, agree with you and make you feel comfortable. However, Jesus changed the game. He ate with tax collectors, spoke with women others ignored, and even touched the untouchable. He wasn’t biased, instead he showed love and it is love that fulfills the law. (Romans 13:10)
Being unbiased doesn’t mean you don’t notice differences. It means that instead of pretending to overlook them, you see them, celebrate them, and still treat people with the same dignity, respect, and grace as you do others who you might find more engaging or appealing. It means you’ve got to check yourself when you catch those quick and quirky little judgments creeping into your thoughts. It means you must change your course and redirect your thinking.
Finally, this is when the magic happens – when you learn to value others. You see, when you are open-minded and unbiased, you are able to genuinely value others. Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”
When you begin to see the image of God in other people – even when they are unlovely, seemingly unlovable, and exhaust your patience, you have stuck gold and God is pleased. It’s taking time to encourage the painfully quiet girl in your Bible study. It’s helping that co-worker that you really don’t like or looking an unhoused person in the eye and genuinely asking how they are doing. It is realizing that every person you meet matters deeply to God. When you value others, authenticity flows naturally because you are no longer competing, comparing, or covering up. Instead, you are living from a place of love.
Sis, I wish uncovering the “cover girl” was as simple as throwing out your old makeup and trying on something new, like bumping up from Cover Girl to Fenty. The real glow up is about taking of the mask. It’s about being who you truly are. It’s about letting go of the made-up identity and embracing your identity in Christ. It about being fully content with who God made you.
When you are open-minded, unbiased, and value others, you begin to reflect Jesus. Psssst. Wanna’ know the best part? People are drawn to authenticity because it feels like a breath of fresh air in a world filled with pretentious imposters. When you live authentically, you don’t just give yourself permission to be free – you give those around you license to do the same. Your authenticity is liberating for everyone!
How open-minded are you? Drop your answer in the comments. Every little step helps you to uncover the “cover girl” and step into you real God-given beauty.
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If you’d like to study the Bible with a dynamic group of women, I invite you to join us in September. We are laid back, authentic, and no question is off the table. We’re all chasing after God and running at our own pace in our own way. Curious? Click this link ReVision Women to register or follow me on YouTube.
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