His Own Image
God made human beings in His own image.” (Genesis 9:6 NLT)
One of my favorite movies of all time is The Elephant Man. This award-winning film is based on the true story of John Merrick, who lived in nineteenth-century London and was horribly disfigured. Massive tumors grew all over him, enlarging his head. He was so grotesque that, unable to find employment elsewhere, he took a job as a freak in a sideshow. No one bothered to find out if he could even speak but through the friendship and encouragement of a young physician, Frederick Treaves, it was discovered that not only could John Merrick speak, but he was quite intelligent, witty and charming.
The most gripping scene in the movie is the one in which Merrick is lost and confused in the Liverpool train station. A group of people, terrified by his appearance, become a mob and pursue him. He lunges and lurches along trying to escape and ultimately is forced against a wall. As the mob moves in apparently ready to kill him, a plaintive wail rises from deep within him, “I am not an animal. I am a human being.”
Some people are ugly and some are beautiful. Some are bright and others are dull. Some are wealthy and others are poor. Some are of one race or ethnicity and others are of another. But inside every skin is a human being that Scripture says is made in God’s own image.
I love the following quote from Mother Teresa. She was once asked by a journalist how she was able to continue for years doing the work she did, caring for the outcasts of Calcutta—the blind, the impoverished the diseased. Her answer: “Every person I meet is Jesus in disguise.” That’s scriptural you know. Jesus said, “If you have done it for the least of these my brothers and sisters, you have done it for me.”
Wherever you may go today—the grocery store, work or school, or home—be aware that every person you meet is a human being made in God’s image. Every person you meet is Jesus in disguise.
Prayer
Dear God, forgive me when I disregard people who are not like me, who look different or think differently. Give me the eyes to see the truth about them—they are, as I am, made in Your image. In the name of our Savior, Amen.
This devotional was written and recorded by Herb Sadler.
Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.
If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.
First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.
