The commandments . . . are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

— Romans 13:9

I thank God for the opportunities I’ve had to visit many countries and to live in several of them for a long while. All of this has given me a fascination for cultural differences.

The differences in food alone can delight the palate (or sometimes unsettle the stomach). Some societies are egalitarian; others are hierarchical. Some encourage dependence on one another, emphasizing community; others encourage independence and individualism. There are also differences in marriage roles, gender roles, family, work, and finance—the list goes on and on.

What has impressed me, though, is that in all societies people want to experience significance and fulfillment. They want to use their talents in ways that others appreciate. All societies love their children. All want to love and be loved—and not only to survive but also to thrive.

One reason for this is that God has made each of us like himself in some special ways. We are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). So, in spite of sin’s damage, we can still detect in good ways the image of God in every person. A bottom line in both interpersonal and intercultural relationships is to respect each person as an imagebearer of God.

This can then lead us to love everyone as ourselves. These basic principles give us a foundation for bridge building that overcomes barriers. Do you see God’s likeness in every person you meet?

Lord, you have made us all in your image. Help us to love everyone, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.