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I firmly believe that if anyone needs concrete proof in order to believe in the power of God, then hold a newborn baby. Look at their tiny fingernails, the folds of their ears, the way their eyelashes flutter when they sleep. There is no greater proof of our loving God, the God that creates, then a newborn child. A child that grows inside a woman for nine months, completely relying on that woman for their food and nourishment, then enters the world, takes their first breath, and then become reliant on the air around them. Even after giving birth to three children, I can still say that the pure miracle of life is nothing short of that- a miracle. It never loses its awe, never loses its ability to amaze. That’s God. That’s His working.
We know that we are all created in the image of God, by God. In 1 Corinthians 12:18 Paul says “God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose.” Paul’s goal in this specific writing was to show the Corinthians how our body’s are all worthy of honor. We are worthy of honor and respect merely because we were created in the likeness of our Lord. That’s exactly why the horrible act of abortion is something that our church will always fight against. The life of the unborn, the innocent children, need protected. Those children are too created in the image and likeness of God, whether or not society chooses to agree with that, they are living, breathing beings. Destined to be saints. Destined to grow up and love and serve our Lord.
I challenge you now to look at your life, your body with that same rationale. It’s so easy to understand why the life of unborn babies need protected- they can’t fight for themselves. The killing of innocent children is wrong. That’s simple. That’s so very easy for us to agree with and for us to fight for. But then I ask you, what about your life? What about the life that you are living right now? Why do we often find it so hard for us to respect life after that life is no longer a sweet, innocent baby? What about when it’s a not so sweet, not so innocent adult?
I will be the first to admit that I’m hard on myself. Not just hard on myself, I spent years believe that because of past mistakes, past sins, I was unworthy of God’s love. Other people, yes, they deserved it, but me, no. I had “sinned too much” or “drifted too far” and God’s love was then reserved for those who didn’t fall into that category. Now, sisters in faith, I will also admit that this is something that I still struggle with. I pray for strength every day for God to allow me to see myself as He sees me. Not as a broken object in need of repair, but as His daughter. Someone he created in His image. Someone who is worthy of His love not because I say I am, but because He says we are.
“You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works! My very self you know.” – Psalm 139: 13-14
When you doubt just how wonderful you are, read this scripture. Read it out loud and focus on the words. In fact, read all of Psalm 139. Remember that God already knows your entire self. It doesn’t matter what you want to hide from Him, or what you want to shield from His view. There’s no mountain tall enough and nowhere low enough to escape Him. Which is amazing news for all of us because that means that His love is always there. Our worth to Him does not change. He created us all and He knows our struggles, our weaknesses, as well as our accomplishments and our goals.
“ Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” – Jeremiah 1:5
We are all dedicated to Him and His mercy. We are all called to bring ourselves closer and closer to God, respecting the life, the body that He chose for us. Respect for life doesn’t end at abortion, it carries on to the respect we should have for all of God’s creations, at all stages of life. It means never forgetting who we are. We are daughters of God, we are made in His image and we are asked to lead a life dedicated to Him.
Reflect: Take time today to reflect and pray with the two passages mentioned.
