04
Don’t Kill Relationships
Rod Shimabukuro“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. Genesis 9:6
Sandwiched between the direction from God to Noah and his sons, to ”be fruitful and multiply“ (vs 1, 7) is verse 6. The command involves a repetition of the word ”blood.“ There’s a connection with blood to life to the image of God. The first time we read ”be fruitful and multiply“ is in Genesis 1, in context with God creating male and female in HIs image.
My observation is that God’s instruction involving the shedding of blood is critically serious. Because mankind is created in the image of God. We all like the ”be fruitful and multiply...we have dominion“ part of the Scripture. But God’s image, HIs person - is reflected through mankind whom He creates!
So my to the point application of how I will live differently today...
Don’t kill relationships...Don’t ”hurt others“, including your wife and kids...with my evil and murderous reactions, attitudes, looks, words - for they are created in the IMAGE OF GOD!
Oh God All Merciful! I plead once again for your mercy. You see within my heart, the cruel and wicked motives, attitudes, thoughts of hurting others...with my judgmental, critical, cynical attitudes. Please forgive me again and again and again...for I have sinned! May Your glory and image live through me! I’m so Grateful for YOUR MERCY and GRACE and LOVE!!!
