"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:16-19 We can love because God first loved us. He is our example... and our standard. God created us all unique. Now more than ever we see the differences that divide us in our community and country. We disagree on just about everything: politics, religion, how to drive, what is fair, abortion, best dressed, human rights, best sports team, human sexuality... and the list goes on and on. We get caught up debating the things that we see as differences. But Genesis tells us that WE, all of us, are created in His image. "Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:26-27 We know that God didn't create us exactly like himself, because God doesn't have a physical body. Instead we were created as a reflection of His glory, to be in relationship with Him. Our image is a reflection of God's love, truth, wisdom, justice, mercy, creativity, patience, forgiveness, kindness, and hope. So how can we love others well? We remind ourselves that we are all created in God's image and we are to reflect God's character. We remind ourselves that because God loved us first, we can love others. And we remind each other that we are more alike than our highly publicized differences will ever be! "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
- EUM Team
