Show God’s Love to All People

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This last week, the youth and I had the opportunity to visit one of our local ministry partners, Pregnancy Assistance Center North (PACN). It was a really great opportunity to learn more about their ministry and about the important work they do supporting parents in our community.

While we were there, we were reminded of the value that God has put on every human life. He made us in His image (Genesis 1:26). He made us uniquely and specially (Psalm 139:13-16). And He loves each and every one of us enough to die for us on the Cross to save us from condemnation (John 3:16-17). How incredible! It is not hard for me to feel the value that God places upon me.

However, Brothers and Sisters, it is hard for me sometimes to remember who is in that “Us” that God values. It is easy for me to know that my family, my friends, and my fellow Christians are made in the image of God. For the most part, they are what I think of when I think of a good human life, of what God wants for us. It is much, much harder for me to know and to believe that all humans are made in the image of God, especially those who are my enemies or who are different from me.

Despite my feelings and how hard it can be for me to see the inherent worth of people I don’t know or dislike, God calls us to follow His way, His character. He instructed the Israelites thusly in Deuteronomy,

“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD… For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.”
Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 17-18

This instruction, to keep the Lord’s commandments, to be like Him, is not only for those ancient Israelites, but for us today as well. We should show God’s love to all those He loves and values; to all people! That means our friends and families and the people like us. And, it also means strangers, enemies, those who are not like us.

That can be really hard for me to remember, so I am committing this week to pray every morning for my attitude as I meet and interact with others. I encourage you to do the same for your attitude towards the people in your life, with the following prayer, or with another:

Father, I am a sinful and broken person loved by you, a righteous and perfect God. I know that I ought to love people as you love me, and I fail at that every day. In my selfishness, I love those who love me and find it easy to dismiss those strangers and enemies who don’t love me.

Father, change me today. May I not take the people I interact with for granted. May I see them as you do, creatures made in your image, loved perfectly and completely by you. May I show them the love and value that you show me.

Give me your compassion, your grace, your mercy, your care for all those I will interact with today, my friends and my family, the strangers on the street, and those who upset me and act against me. May you make me a vessel of your love towards all those I interact with today, people loved by you, made in your image. Amen.

God’s Peace and Presence be with you all,
Noah