Scripture: Genesis 1:27, 31
God created humanity in God’s own image, in the divine image God created them, male and female God created them…God saw everything he had made: it was supremely good. There was evening and there was morning: the sixth day.
Thought for the Day: There are a number of passages in scripture where the sinfulness and failures of humanity are lifted up as if those passages tell the whole story. People are quick to emphasize the Apostle Paul who said, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God…” People take those words out of their context and layer them with other similar passages, but even Paul does not end his comments with that statement. In fact, he goes on to describe what God has done on our behalf, not because we are perfect or have equal standing with God, but because we are valued by God. As I read scripture, there is a marvelous thread that runs through it all – a thread that begins with the declaration that human beings (and all other creatures) are supremely good. Do we still require some help? Absolutely! Do we have moments of failure with dramatic and painful implications? Yes! Yet as we read in 1st John, we are to love one another because God first loved us. This love of God can dwell within us. In fact, it can become perfected within us according to 1st John. We need guidance, forgiveness, modeling and a lot of encouragement, but there is a goodness to who we are that cannot ultimately be eclipsed by sin, failure, or even our complete screw ups. In fact, God wants us to embrace this goodness – for ourselves and for the sake of all creation.
Prayer: Let the message of my goodness, O God who first loved me, spill over me and heal me and empower me. Let me see again the life of Jesus, a life that stands as an example for me to emulate. Though never perfect, I desire embrace all the potential you see within me. This I pray in the name of your wonderful gift of grace, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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