【双语灵修】看见神的形象SEEING OTHERS CORRECTLY

彼得前书 4:8-10

最要紧的是彼此切实相爱，因为爱能遮掩许多的罪。 你们要互相款待，不发怨言。 各人要照所得的恩赐彼此服侍，做神百般恩赐的好管家。

6月28日 看见神的形象

“最要紧的是彼此切实相爱，因为爱能遮掩许多的罪......各人要照所得的恩赐彼此服侍，做神百般恩赐的好管家......” -彼前 4:8-10

起初，神就照自己的形象造人（创世记1:27）。这真理奠定了我们看待万民的根基。不同于其他古代创世的故事将神性仅赋予君王，《圣经》教导我们每个生命都承载着神的样式。

这真理构建了整本《圣经》的社会伦理：我们是否真能在每个人身上——无论贵贱背景——认出神的形象？

正如许多道德哲学家所言，我们需要正确地看待人。换句话说，若我们忽视某人具有神的形象，就是将他或她贬低为次等存在，甚至低于人类。而若我们以“非人化”对待他人时，往往会导致虐待、边缘化、不平等与不公义的情况。

相反，当我们认识到以爱与公义看待邻舍、陌生人乃至仇敌时，就能发现他们与生俱来的价值和尊严（参马太福音5:43-48）。

作为神的信徒，我们亟需以神的眼光看待人。愿圣灵在我们心里动工，使我们在每个相遇中都有正确的看见。

祷告

仁爱的神啊，求你开启我们心灵的眼睛，看见每个人里面的尊贵。愿我们以爱、以公义、以当得的尊荣彼此相待。阿们。

1 Peter 4:8-10

SATURDAY, JUNE 28

SEEING OTHERS CORRECTLY

“Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. . . . Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace. . . .” — 1 Peter 4:8-10

In the beginning, God created human beings in his image (Genesis 1:27). This foundational truth shapes how we view all of humanity. Unlike other creation stories, where only kings or rulers bear the divine image, the Bible teaches that every person carries God’s likeness.

This truth underpins the entire biblical social ethic: Do we truly recognize the image of God in all people, regardless of their status, background, or differences?

We need to see people correctly, as many moral philosophers and ethicists have recognized. In other words, if we fail to see someone as made in God's image, we reduce them to something lesser, even less than human. And if we dehumanize people, that can easily lead to mistreatment, marginalization, inequality, and injustice.

In contrast, when we learn to view all people—our neighbors, strangers, and even our enemies—with love and justice, we begin to recognize their inherent worth and dignity. (See Matthew 5:43-48.)

As believers in God, we need to see people as God does. May God’s Spirit work in us to see correctly all the people we are in community with, wherever we are.

Loving God, open our hearts to recognize the dignity and worth in each person. May we treat everyone with love, justice, and the honor they deserve. Amen.