Genesis 1:27

I can happily sit people watching for ages. It fascinates me that we are all so incredibly different from one another. In size, shape, colour, height, age and ability, we are all absolutely unique. However, we have one thing in common – we are all made in the image of God.

This is a very interesting way of describing human beings, and not least because the second commandment tells us that we should never create an image of God. That’s understandable because if you make an inanimate image of God, there is every possibility that you will focus your worship on the image and forget about God himself. And yet God has made you and me as images of himself. Isn’t that amazing? What we learn from this is that we resemble God. In our creativity, our loving, our kindness, our need to communicate, and in many other ways, we reflect the nature of God.

I have found these insights particularly powerful and precious in the last few years as I have spent a great deal of time with people with disabilities. Some, with learning disabilities, have never been able to speak. Some visually impaired people have never seen anything. I treasure the fact that, different as our lives clearly are, we are all made in the image of God. That is more important than anything else.

Our society showers us with images of beautiful, young able-bodied people. We should praise God for the fact that they are made in the image of God. When we see a tiny fragile baby, born prematurely and supported by a ventilator, an elderly person with dementia or a person with multiple disabilities, we should praise God for them as well, for they, too, are made in his image.

Question

What do you see of God in the people around you?

Prayer

Thank you, Creator God, that we have all been made in your image and reflect your likeness. Help me to treasure every single person. Amen