We have been created in God’s image, designed to live in harmonious relationships. We are meant to love God and others without reservation. We were made to know how to behave as God would, with respect for ourselves and all of creation. We were created perfect, but, as Adam and Eve’s story tells us, we craved more, and that is when the troubles started. Our image was corrupted, but God loved us so much that He made a way with Jesus for all of us to find our way back to Him.
Read the headlines and see how far we have fallen. People are targeting others because they are different. They are victimizing, brutalizing and killing them. Many do not see the sinfulness of this act and are wrongfully deciding whether they stand with the killers or victims. Our call is to condone acts against God’s creation. We are to love and not judge. When someone chooses to follow Jesus, we gather around them to encourage and show them the way of scripture, prayer, and other spiritual practices. The Holy Spirit set them up to hear God’s will. He will also convict them of their wrongdoings. In His time, the Holy Spirit will make God known to all of us and may use Christian brothers and sisters to light the path to God.
We aim to bring the gospel to the world in a way unique to the circumstances and gifts God has given us. Focus on that and pray God uses you. Beware of your attitude toward others, those who are not like you. Remember, first, we are all made in God’s image and pray for those who are being persecuted and murdered because of their difference. When you pray for your neighbours, ask for healing and recovery for those injured, peace for those living in fear, and hope for those who do not know that God has a way for them. Remember also those in your community who seem to live relativity-safe lives but do not know the gift Jesus is offering them.
