Reflecting God

First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don’t see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God’s Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss.God spoke: “Light!” And light appeared. God saw that light was good and separated light from dark. God named the light Day, he named the dark Night. It was evening, it was morning— Day One.God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.” God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female.Genesis 1:1-5, 26-27

When I read Genesis 1, one thing that jumps out at me is God's love and passion for His creation...God saw that it was good. We are all made godlike, reflecting God's nature. All of us. You, me, Syrian refugees, victims of domestic violence, rich, poor, somewhere in between ... all of us reflect God's nature. Members of ISIS, the KKK, gang members, suicide bombers, gunmen, hippies, pastors, bikers, pregnant teens, the homeless, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Pagans ... all are created in God's image, out of God's love. 

What this means for us is that all deserve our love, our prayers, our forgiveness. Everyone. We don't have to condone other's actions or agree with their beliefs, but we can reflect God's love in our words, actions, and thoughts toward every person.

If only everyone could wonder at the Love with which we were created and what that means for how we live our lives. We are Love embodied. Would that everyone were able to let that Love shine. Unfortunately, so many have had that Love dulled by fear, anger, lies, and despair. It is these souls who need our prayers and our love the most. 

Perhaps we all need a reminder that we are created to reflect God's nature in thought, word, and deed and to strive to see God's Love reflected in all we encounter.

What would that mean for you in your life?