Genesis 1:27 (NIV84)
27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Genesis 9:6
6“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.
James 3:9
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.
The doctrine of the imago Dei is not merely a lofty theological concept; it is the bedrock of all human dignity, and its implications are intensely practical. If every single person is made in the image of God, then every single person has an objective, irreducible, and infinite worth, regardless of their utility, intelligence, age, or accomplishments. This truth must radically shape the way we regard both ourselves and, crucially, others.
God considers an attack on any human being to be an attack on Himself. To harm a person is to vandalize a masterpiece, to deface a statue of the King. This means that any form of oppression, exploitation, racism, or classism is not merely a crime against justice, but a theological crime against the Creator. It is an affirmation of the specialness of human beings that stands against any philosophy that would reduce us to mere animals or cosmic accidents.
This doctrine also forces us to deeply respect those of other cultures and even other faiths. We must not see ourselves as inherently superior to non-believers. The image of God, though warped by sin, is still present in every person. This means we can and should appreciate the Creator’s gifts of wisdom, nobility, and creativity wherever we find them. C.S. Lewis captured it perfectly when he wrote of humanity, “You come from the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve, and that’s both honor enough to lift up the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth.” The image of God is the great leveler. It bestows on the beggar a glory that demands our respect and reminds the emperor of a humility that tempers his pride.
Reflect, Share & Prayer: Think of someone with whom you strongly disagree or find it difficult to get along. How does remembering that they are made in the image of God—that they have an infinite worth in His eyes—challenge you to treat them differently? Ask God for the grace to see His image in them.
The one person I never see eye to eye with is my mom & it is very sad. She been very selfish. I grew up always feeling like my mom didn’t love me & there was many times I asked myself how can my mom do the things she did to me. There was a lot of incident that happened to me that made me felt worthless, shame, and guilt. As I came to believe over the years I’ve have accepted that we are all sinners & that I am a child of God. We all have made mistakes in our lives, including my mom. I have forgiven her. She is also a child of God, even though she doesn’t know that love God has for her and that’s OK. I will continue to pray that she will one day experience God’s love for her. Also, what I learned it doesn’t matter if we’re Christian or not. If we’re homeless or rich, if we’re addicts. We’re all children of God and we are all worth it. I am reborn again. I am to continue to spread love to those around me. Because that’s what God has done for me praying to share the good news.
Hello heavenly father, I beg for your mercy and grace. I pray that he guide me with an open mind and an open heart that I may be reminded then none of us are perfect, we are all sinners, and we are all have flaws. I pray that you feel me with your holy spirit so that I can walk with Grace and through me so that my mom and those that I encounter could experience your goodness that I may be a woman with an example of your goodness in your love of God to all those around me. I pray that you show signs to my mom and that she would want to get to know you more and have an opportunity to get to experience your love. And Lord, I also pray that you from JB closer to you. May he want to get to know you more and experience your goodness, even in darkness more and more each day. And I pray all your mighty precious name Jesus amen
From Calvin:
This was a good read. It’s also very relevant in today’s heated political climate. I’ve seen the despicable things people have said to each other (both in-person and online) because of their different political ideologies. This was a good reminder that all people are made in the image of God and should be given value and respect, regardless of their race, class, sexual orientation, religion, or political affiliations.
James 3 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. I remember studying it when I was doing youth ministry in college. It has helped me a lot throughout life, reminding me to be more mindful of my words (and actions). Glad to see that reminder again in James 3:9 in this reading.
I think this is a place I struggle a lot. First impressions are big for me so if someone gives me a bad feeling or I don’t like their personality I tend to just keep that image of them in my head. I also tend to hold grudges. Which is something I know I need to work on especially AS a counselor meeting new students constantly. Just reminding myself they are God children too and that I’m no better as well.
Lord teach me to forgive and to not hold grudges on anyone and to give me the ability to give people grace as you have given me.
-Thomas
(from Brian)
Happy Friday! Let me jump in right after Brother Vic! ❤️
In this day and age, I honestly can’t think of anyone I strongly disagree with or truly find difficult to get along with. Wait except for maybe my wife 😂 ha jk!
I try to keep life pretty simple, and over the past several years I’ve decided that if I don’t naturally connect with someone, that’s okay, I’ll just hang out or communicate with them less or not at all. No hate ever – just a way to redirect my energy elsewhere.
Now, if I stretch my imagination and picture someone who has deeply hurt my family in unimaginable ways, I wonder, would I forgive that person? How would I treat them? Would they feel like a demon in the flesh? Because I’ve been forgiven, I’d like to believe I could show the same grace. But honestly, I won’t know until I’m faced with it.
Father, I’m reminded that although there are sick and broken people in this world, I am no better! I fall short too, and I’ve hurt others intentionally and unintentionally. I pray that I learn from my mistakes and grow to be more like You. Give me eyes and ears for the lost and broken, just like I was before You came into my life. Give me the ability to protect my loved ones but at the same time also give me strength to forgive those who have or will wrong my loved ones. Thank you, Father.
The view of seeing another human through God’s eyes changed the way I saw my husband when times were tough. At around 7th year of marriage, we went through some tough patches. I prayed to God to save us and to help me see my husband through Jesus’ eyes. I needed and asked for his grace to love him past his shortcomings and not the sinner. The ability to see others through the lens of Christ, to remember that all were created in His image, stops me in my tracks when I want to throw judgment. Joyce
From Monica
I felt very convicted reading this passage and devotion today. It immediately reminded me of my work place. The majority of the patients that I see and treat are of a marginalized community – low income, substance use, mental health conditions, ethnic minority, etc. Many times, I get yelled at, cussed at, disrespected, especially when my treatment plan doesn’t align with what they want or expect. It becomes difficult to have a heart for people that don’t feel receptive or show gratitude, despite my attempts to help them. This passage reminded me that everyone is created in the image of God. God perfectly crafted them and although they may have strayed away from their original design/purpose, God still loves them which means I am called to love them too.
God, I pray that you would fill me with your love and patience every day. Please help me to acknowledge how I have sinned and been forgiven by you, so that I can demonstrate the same love to those that are hard to love. May you soften my tongue and mind, so I can approach my patients with gentleness and peace.
From Jason:
The person who dislike/disagree with the i no longer in contact with but his view of friendship and relationships as a whole was so warped i couldnt wrap my head around being his friend. Being reminded of the image of God reminds me that he is still made in His image. As much as i dont like him i can see his worth and beloved soul because of our lord and savior jesus christ. Lord help me to invite him back into my life for a chance of reconciliation and Lord i pray that i will rejoice right now because he is made in your image and is going to heaven with me. Amen
My eyes and mind are definitely clouded when it comes to holding grudges against another person. I’m fixated on the other person’s problem instead of God’s creation of that person. Going against anyone is denying God’s perfect creation of human beings. I want to change my perspective and realize it’s extremely embarrassing to dislike anybody. God, I need your mercy and grace in my past of disliking people. Be gracious to me and always remind me of embracing people even though there is disagreement and difference. Help me to understand your purpose and wisdom so I won’t be lost in my sins.