July - 1
GOING BACK TO THE BEGINNING
God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.” . . . Male and female he created them. Gen. 1:26-27
Many people today go to great lengths to trace their family tree. They want to trace their family name and discover the history that helped shape them. A recent trip to the country of my parents’ birth stirred that interest in me. That trip stimulated a strong desire to know my heritage and the role it has played in my life.
Though I haven’t yet been able to trace my immediate family roots very far, I can easily go back to the very beginning of my human heritage. Those roots take me back not just to Adam and Eve but to the God who made us in his image, in his own likeness.
Have you noted the use of the plural here? God refers to himself as “us” and “our” and says that we humans are created male and female. Being human has to do with being made to connect with others. I am not hu¬man as God intended if I am simply an island by myself; I am fully human when I am in relationship. My identity is determined not just by who came before me; it’s also about whoever I connect with.
This is a good time to reflect on who you are too. How is God’s image reflected in your relationships? What kinds of connections do you have?
Today is Sunday, a day to consider our roots in God and what it means to be human. Have you thought about your heritage lately?
PRAYER
O God who made us, help me to know who you are and what it means that I have been made in your image. Help me to know myself by my connection to you and others. Amen.
今天，很多人千方百计寻索他们的家谱，他们希望查考他们的姓氏并发掘塑造他们的家族历史。最近我曾到过父母出生的祖国一游，这旅程大大激发我去认识我的根和它在我生命中扮演的角色。
我追寻自己家族的根虽然未能寻得很远，但要追溯人类的起源却很容易，人类的根不但源自亚当和夏娃，它更带我们回到照祂的形像、按祂的样式造我们的神那里。
你有没有留意到这里用的是复数呢？神称自己「我们」和「我们的」，又说神造人是造男造女。人之所为人，就有神赋予我们的这个与他人建立关系的本性，如果我只是一个孤岛，我就不符合神造人的本性了。当我与人交往时，我才是一个真正的人。我的身分不单由我的祖先决定，它也是与我和甚么人交往有关。
现在也是反思你是谁的好时机，神的形像又是如何在你与别人的关系上反映出来呢？你与甚么人交往呢？
今天，我们当思考我们在神里的根和人性的真义；你最近有没有想到你的根源呢？
祷告
创造我们的神啊，求祢帮助我们知道我们的身分，又明白我们是照祢的形像被造的意思。求祢帮助我们，借着与祢和与别人的交往，来认识自己。阿们。