Basic Beliefs - January 2025
Welcome to 2025! I thank God for the things He has done in 2024. But I am very excited about what He is going to do in this upcoming year. In our blogs in the next few months we will take a look at different truths and basic beliefs that we can live by. This month we will begin with the truth: God puts great value on people.
There is one popular scripture that shows this truth clearly. It’s found in John 3:16. It says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God loves us so much that He sacrificed His Son so that we could have life with Him. We can see the value He places on us because of what He was willing to give up for us. He loves us that much.
We can also see the value He has for us when He created us. The first chapter of Genesis gives us this account. Verse twenty-seven says, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him: male and female He created them.” Of all the things God has created in this universe, man is the only one created in His image. Neither the monkey, lion, tree nor mountains were made in His image - only mankind.
He created us in His image but He also created us with dominion. The eighth Psalm says He crowned us with glory and honor and made us “to have dominion over the works of thy Hands.” He put us in charge of everything that He has created. He not only loves us and counts us valuable, He gives us responsibility.
God values us so much that He has chosen to put His Spirit in each of us that believe on the Lord Jesus. We are the very temple of the living God. God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (2 Cor. 6:16) The very presence of God lives in us!
There are so many scriptures in the Bible that show us how He values and loves us. But I want to share just one more. It is found in 1 John 3:1. It says, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God.” He not only saved us and put His Spirit in us; He calls us His sons and daughters. We have been grafted into the family. We are one with Him and we can call Him “Father God”. We are not just servants of God we are His sons. Wow! He loves us so much.
Now with these thoughts in mind let’s look at how that should change us. We should have boldness and confidence in Him as we go through this life. But this truth should also remind us that God places great value on every person on earth. Even those we don’t particularly care for, God loves them. He sent Jesus to die for them too. He wants everyone to have the same blessings in their life. So what do we do?
Where ever we go or whatever we do we must show forth the love that He has for all mankind. May our actions and words be filled with love and compassion. And we should have the same urgency to reach the lost as He does. So “Go ye” and be an ambassador for Christ.