The Creation by Lucas Cranach, 1534
God said, Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
God is mighty, but despises no-one.
Genesis 1:26; Proverbs 15:1; Job 36:5.
Jim is a policeman. For fifteen years he has been on outside duty, keeping order in the streets. He has often had to deal with unpleasant characters. He has recently been awarded a decoration for exemplary conduct towards his fellowmen. A friend asked him about it. Jim is a quiet person, who does not like to talk about himself. But he did reveal his secret and testify for his Lord; he is a Christian.
“There are two aspects. The first is, he is a fellow citizen; the second is how I deal with him. If I called to a pub because someone is on the rampage, I never say to myself, ‘It’s someone who has drunk too much.’ I think, “It is a worthy human being, a husband, a father, a son, or a neighbour, who has got drunk.” I try to think of the person, not what he has done. As to the second aspect, the Bible says that a soft answer turns away wrath. If I have to deal with traffic offences, I speak to the driver calmly, even if he is very angry. and that has worked for fifteen years.”
We need to remember that everyone has been created in God’s image, whatever state we encounter them in. Everyone is worthy of being treated respectfully (cf. 1 Peter 2:17). When man turned away from his Creator, God sent him His own Son as the Saviour. How important everyone is for God!
Image: By Workshop of Lucas Cranach. – Taschen: http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/classics/all/06739/facts.the_bible_in_pictures.htm, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=100320561