STARVEDਨਮੂਨਾ

Starved for Justice

I remember the day the truth hit me like a door in my face. Because the truth came from a cry of lament from a young black female in response to George Floyd’s murder: “He was an image-bearer!”

He was an image-bearer.

Every single person—no matter their belief in God or not—is made in God’s image. Every single person is an image-bearer of the Most High. No matter what they believe, how they act, where they live, what they say, where they come from, what their sexual orientation or like and dislikes or political leaning. God created human beings in His image.

Which means every person has inherent dignity, value, and worth. No human is higher than another. No human is more important than another. No human is worth more than another.

Wherever we see injustice, we see a lack of protecting the image of God in one another. God loves justice (see Isaiah 61:8). And since the very throne of God is described as being founded upon righteousness and justice, wherever there is injustice, it grieves God’s heart. From poverty to sex trafficking to racism, we see a world starving for justice (see Psalm 89:14).

At the very least, justice is giving people their rights. At its very best, justice provides proactive care and protection for every image-bearer.

So what does that mean for us right here, right now? How do we act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly in our everyday ordinary lives? (see Micah 6:8).

The first step is to see and celebrate the image of God in every person you cross paths with today. No matter how different they are from you. No matter their social status or skin color or language. Every person is made in God’s image, and we are called to protect and keep this precious image and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Today, start with simply and profoundly seeing the image of God everywhere you go.

Let’s close with this breath prayer:

Exhale: I see image-bearers . . .

Inhale: . . . all around me.