DAY THIRTY-SIX - BIG PICTURE IN A YEAR - THE PEOPLE

by King's Cross Training February 5, 2021

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh

Genesis 2: 23

Yesterday we looked at a key component of the creation of mankind, the fact that we were made to have relationship as man and woman, and relationship with God. This is one of the ways in which we image, or reflect, our Maker. But the fact that humanity was made as the icon of God has even greater implications for us.

Have you ever stopped to consider that the only way you can pay homage to God in this life, on this Earth, is to honour other human beings?

God is in Heaven and at this time, although we enjoy His indwelling Spirit, we cannot storm Heaven and approach God's throne with our gifts and our offerings. But we can honour Him by honouring his icon, his representative, on Earth. Other human beings.

Genesis 9 makes it very clear that God takes the image-bearing of man very seriously. Here God gives Noah authority to punish murderers precisely because “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.” It is no small thing to be in the image of God. When Satan drags a human being into degradation, it is because he delights to see God’s image defiled.

You and I have a choice. To honour God’s image, and therefore by implication, God Himself – or not. We honour the image by treating ourself and other human beings with respect, love and dignity. We disrespect the image by using other human beings as objects and treating them disdainfully.

Prayer

Father, I see it now. Help me to treat myself and every human being with complete respect.

For the family

Explain

Ask the children if they’ve ever wanted to give God a present? How would they do that? Explain that God is in Heaven, but His icon, His people, are on Earth. Do you think it would please God if you did something nice for one of His children? Explain that if you went to a faraway Country and your children needed help, you would be very pleased if one of your friends helped them.

Engage

Spend some time thinking about something you could do as a family to help one of God’s children. And then…do it.