Unity

When my hair started to thin from chemotherapy and my makeup could no longer hide the dark circles under my eyes, it was hard for me to look in the mirror even long enough to brush my teeth. The lump and the scar on my right shoulder from the portacath showed glaringly in my mind’s eye even under clothing. In winter, I could at least wear a scarf to hide the bump, but on weeks when I wore the infusion pump for 3 days, there was no hiding the fanny pack around my waist. I’ve always been overly self-conscious but this made all the things I’d obsessed over before seem petty! Thank God, my worth is not dependent on how I see myself on any given day! I can turn to God’s beautiful word to see with new eyes who He says I am!

The world seeks to define us, group us, categorize us in the media, in clothing shops, bookstores, and even in our communities. All of this input polarizes us, pushing us away from each other ideologically, ethnically, ethically, socially, you name it- we are divided.

In their song, IMAGE OF GOD, the group called We Are Messengers communicates truth in a profound way.

“Seven billion voices

separate us

But only one can

show us who we are

We are made-

Made in the image of-

Made in the image of God

Beautiful shades of love

We are made-

Made in the image of-

Made in the image of God

That’s where the light comes from…”

Paul wrote to the Roman believers, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Romans 12:2 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/rom.12.2.nlt

Don’t let the world define you! You are made in the image of God as is every person who has ever lived. We are created to live and walk in intimate fellowship with our Creator God. This relationship gives life and depth to all others!

Jesus told His first followers, “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

This is my command: Love each other.”

John 15:12-15, 17 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/jhn.15.12-15,17.nlt

The biological brother of Jesus who came to faith in Him wrote, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”

James 1:22-25 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/jas.1.22-25.nlt

When we look in the mirror of His word, we should begin to recognize the image of God in our own mirror. We must learn to see ourselves as God see us, and if we see His image in the faces of all we meet, then we have love for one another, not disdain. We love others because He first loved us! (I John 4:19)

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.”

1 John 4:7-12 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/1jn.4.7-12.nlt

Jesus said we should love others in the same sacrificial way He has loved us, and when we do, God’s love is given full expression in us. This God-love does not come naturally to us, but by the power of His Holy Spirit alive in us, we are able to choose love.

“May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.”

Romans 15:5-7 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/rom.15.5-7.nlt

“How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting.”

Psalms 133:1-3 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/psa.133.1-3.nlt