Hope, Words of Endurance

Worthy of Respect

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father,
and with we curse human beings,
who have been made in God’s likeness.
JAMES 3:9 (NIV)

Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden through disobedience. They sinned and dragged all of their descendants (including us) down with them. But they were not “unmade” in God’s image because of their sin. The image was marred but not destroyed or removed.

To this day, all men and women are born into the world with God’s image intact. That’s why, for instance, James tells us we should not curse those who irritate or anger us – they are made in God’s image. They may not act like it; they may not even know it or acknowledge it. But the likeness is still there: They have been made in the image of God and are therefore worthy of respect.

,

Show proper respect to everyone,
love the family of believers, fear God,
honor the emperor.
1 PETER 2:17(NIV)

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father,
and with we curse human beings,
who have been made in God’s likeness.
JAMES 3:9 (NIV)