In His Image

7-10-16

When you meet someone, what do you think? Do you immediately notice your differences? Wonder what they think about you? It's easily done. What happens if they're not just like you? Do you start fidgeting in your shoes?

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. - Genesis 1:27

There's a lot of unrest in society today. People focus on and magnify differences between people. What if the first thing in our minds was that when we look at the person in front of us, we are looking at an expression of God?

What if we didn't see occupations, races, or sides of town? Instead, what if we saw souls? Lives that God loves? Acts 17:26 says, "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..."

We all come from the same Creator. Shouldn't we be concerned with human rights in general? It's good to have a sense of pride in who you are and where you're from. But when we start promoting rights of one group above another, it's detrimental to all. Remember Galatians 3:28. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

 If we are Christians, when God looks at us what He sees is the blood of Christ covering a sinner. What right do we have to see anything else?

Is that to say that we shouldn't speak out against evil? Absolutely not. Ephesians 5:11 says, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." However, we must speak against all who don't do God's will without singling out individuals or groups.

Let's consider each other as people God loves enough to give His Son for. Let's treat each other with the love that God has for us. And remember, "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men" (Romans 12:17).

May the Lord bless and keep you,

Heather