In the Image of God
September 2, 2024 by admin
Filed under Personal Growth
Slamming the front door, I'd march into the house shouting, "I hate you!” My sweet, even-tempered mother would calmly walk into my room, and say, "Now Cheri, I can see you are angry, but you really don't hate anyone. You may dislike or even hate what they do, but you don't hate them. After all, they, too, were created by God.” I hated that. She was right, but when you are really angry, it takes all of the punch out of your anger to admit you loved the person God created, but not who they have become. There are a lot of people today who fall into this category. They no longer are the people God created them to be. Some are even downright evil, yet we know from Scripture, God created everyone to live in union with Him. So how do we stop evil from overcoming the world, from overcoming us? I believe we begin with this premise, and then teach it to our children, and their children, and their children's children—that everything was and everyone is created by God.
This scripture is a hymn, which may have been written to celebrate the moving of the Ark of the Covenant. It was then sung on the first day of each week in the temple services reminding them all were created by God, and that those whom God created were to be pure and keep their eyes upon Him. A pure heart doesn't harbor hatred, but love for all of creation, and all of His people.
PRAYER: God, I come before You today seeking a pure heart that will reflect the beauty of the world You created. As I seek Your face, help me see all of the people of this earth the way You see them, as worthy of Your love and Your sacrifice.
A psalm of David. “The Lord owns the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live in it,” Psalm 24:1 NET.
Today’s devotion is by Cheri Cowell, Asbury Theological Seminary student, known as author and speaker on the deep questions of faith. Her first book Direction: Discernment for the Decisions of Your Life (Beacon Hill) is being called a biblically-sound, no nonsense approach to making God-centered life choices. For comments or to inquire about her speaking schedule, visit www.DirectionAndDiscernment.com/.
