Imagine for a minute that there’s a clay jar that contains the presence of God. When the lid is taken off we can see God’s image, not perfectly but recognizably. How valuable would that jar be? How much would we treasure the jar? What respect would it garner from our culture? James the apostle understood the value of others when speaking about the power of our words, for good and evil:
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
What gives a jar value is usually not the jar itself but it’s contents. For this reason we are to respect all people. We respect people because of God. And as for others believers, how much more respect do we give to those who are described in Scripture as the temple of God?
This holiday season you may be around some people who have done things that would cause you to disrespect them. So how is it you can keep from gossip and still honor evil people? Because they have been made in God’s likeness.
