“You shall not murder.”
From an early age, we value the things we create. Children throw tantrums when someone messes up their masterpiece, and insults cut deep when a teenager has worked hard on a project that others tear down. The things we create hold value because they are a combination of our time and effort, making them personal to us. In a small way, they are a part of us. If we value our own work this way, think about how much more God must value the creation He has made.
Mankind is the only part of God’s creation, though we are made in His image. Hurting people when they hurt us or tearing others down when we feel like they deserve it comes naturally to our sinful nature, but it does not rightly value God’s creation. Murder takes this even further, destroying those who reflect God’s image and have inherent value. We are to recognize this value in other people as image-bearers regardless of their age, heritage, or background and love them as Christ did instead of tearing down what God has made beautiful. As we will see throughout this week, this command extends not only to the actual act of murder but also to the thoughts and intentions of our hearts.
- What are some ways humanity is unique among God’s creation? What does the way God values humanity tell us about how we are to do the same?
- What are some ways you can grow in valuing other people as those made in the image of God?
- Pray and ask God to grow your love for His image bearers.
