Thursday, August 15, 2024

One of the challenges of being a writer is letting others edit my work. Receiving critique requires courage, even though I know it will help my writing become better in the end. I think this is true for anything we work hard on, whether it is our art, family, or job. We put so much of ourselves into what we are passionate about. 

At the beginning of time, God made humans in his image, or “Imago Dei” in Latin. He gave us some of his characteristics, such as love, creativity, faith, and learning ability, and called us “very good.” He loves us so much that he put himself into our design. 

Genesis 1:27
So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Sometimes, we forget that God made everyone in his image. Even people with different beliefs, politics, and values—including those who insult and hurt us—are made Imago Dei. We are all his masterpieces, created on purpose, for a purpose. 

When we show love for other people, no matter how imperfect they are, we are also loving God. In every interaction, we can look for God’s fingerprints on that person’s life, seeing how they were uniquely created to glorify our Lord. 

However, we can’t just admire their God-given gifts and move on. Jesus showed his love by coming into our mess and sacrificing himself for us. God calls us to actively serve his people, and by serving them, we are able to serve him. We show our love for God by serving his creation.

Matthew 25:40
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”

The things we create are bound to have flaws. However, God does not make mistakes. While sin has broken his creation, he still calls us, all of us, very good. He is changing our hearts so that we can be very good once again. 

By actively loving others, we are pouring ourselves into the most important mission, one that will last for eternity. There are times when we will fail, but through our gifts, the parts of us that are Imago Dei, God will help us serve others and glorify his name. 

Questions:
What aspects of God’s character do you see in the people around you? What about the people you struggle to get along with? How can you actively love them this week?  

Next Steps:
Next time you interact with someone, especially someone difficult, look for how God is working in their life. Ask God to fill you with love for them.

Find a way to serve the people around you. Try a new area of the DreamTeam, join a Group that volunteers nearby, or participate in Second Saturday Serve. 

21 Days of Prayer - Day 4
Focus: For Our World (John 3:16)

Prayer:
Dear God, you alone deserve all honor, glory, and praise. You are our refuge and strength in every storm we face. You are the only true solution to the problems that plague our world today. Fill our world with your love and empower us to share your love with others. I also pray that you would ignite a deep passion in the church for your mission and for your message to reach every corner of the earth. We pray this in Jesus’ name—amen.

Series Theme Verse:
Hebrews 3:14 
For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. 

Today’s post was written by Lydia Snyder, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.