People Are Precious

JOHN 3:16  For God had such love for the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to destruction but have eternal life.

 We may be too familiar with John 3:16 for its message to impact us as it should. When it says that God loves the world, it means the people of the world. God loves people -- even the sinners. ALL the people of the world are loved by God. (That does not mean He approves of their behavior. But God loves them.)

 People are created in the image of God. We are like God, His children. (You must receive Jesus to be a true child of God, but originally mankind was created in God's image, as His children.) Children are precious to their parents. No matter how many children a parent has, every child is precious to them. They are all loved. So it is with God, who obviously has a huge capacity for love. A parent may have a child who is a criminal, but that parent, if they are a good parent, will still care for their son or daughter and desire good for them. God is no less loving and caring. He desires good for us -- every one.

 When we deal with people who are acting terrible, it can be difficult to remember they are precious to God. LUKE 6:35-36 NLT 35 "Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36

You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. People will last for eternity. People will live with God and give Him pleasure in the ages to come. Let's stay focused on what is really precious and worthwhile. Material possessions are nice and have their place, but are nothing compared to the worth of a human being -- even if that human being is not perfected yet. Even with rough edges, people are valuable. You are precious to God! So is everyone else.

 SAY THIS: Every person is precious to God.