November 23 - Image is Everything
November 23
Image is Everything
Bible Reading: Genesis 1:26-31
26Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. 31Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
IMAGINE WHAT IT would feel like if your town erected a statue of you in the middle of the town square or in front of city hall, then used your statue as a target, throwing rotten tomatoes and apples at your image!
Imagine what it would feel like to be the president of your own company, with a huge oil painting of yourself hanging in the company's fancy lobby--and then to discover that someone had drawn a silly mustache on your face in the painting!
Imagine what it would feel like if your picture were printed in People magazine's annual "Fifty Most Beautiful People" issue; but, when you went to the store to buy as many copies as you could, you discovered that someone had gone through every single issue and written in bold, black marker, "This is an ugly picture!" across your photo.
How would such things make you feel? Sad? Angry? Hurt?
But now, wait a minute. Remember that those people aren't attacking you--they're only attacking your image. The statue, the painting, the photo--those were just things that were made in your image, right? But it would still hurt, wouldn't it? When someone attacks, insults, or disrespects something made in your image, it's just like they were doing it to you, right?
Well, then, if you can understand that, imagine how God feels when people attack, insult, or disrespect other people. After all, every human being in the world is made in God's image. Every man and woman has been created in the image of God. So don't you think it makes God sad, angry, or hurt when we don't respect others who bear his image?
You see, that's why respect is right and disrespect is wrong--because we were all made in the image of God. Every human being is made in God's image, whether he or she is old or young, dark-skinned or light-skinned, male or female, able or disabled, sick or well, cool or uncool. Every human being is valuable in God's eyes. And every human being deserves to be respected as a unique and valuable child of God.
REFLECT: What does today's Bible reading say about human beings? Why is respect for others right? Do you know any person who isn't made in the image of God? Do you know any person who doesn't deserve to be respected as a unique and valuable child of God? Do you think you can respect a person without agreeing with his or her behavior? If so, how? How can you show respect for every human being you meet today?
PRAY: "God, thank You for reminding me that I am made in Your image, just like everybody else in the world. Help me to respect and treat other people the way I should."