The Gospel in Color, Week 1: The Multi-Ethnic People of God
Each week in May, I’ll be posting four devotionals that correspond with the four chapters in the book, The Gospel in Color: A Theology of Racial Reconciliation for Kids by Patrol Books (WeArePatrol.com). Here is the devotional for week 1.
Read Genesis 1:26–31
You could also read "What Is Race?" from The Gospel in Color: A Theology of Racial Reconciliation for Kids (pages 16–29), "The beginning: a perfect home" from The Jesus Storybook Bible (pages 18–27), or
"Story 1: God Makes Everything" from The Beginner's Gospel Story Bible (pages 1–7).
Gospel in Color Parents Video
Children’s Teaching Video
Devotional
Genesis 1:26–31 begins when God pauses and says, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” He went on to say that people would have dominion over all the animals on the ground and the birds in the heavens. Humanity, made in God’s image, is an extension of his rule and dominion. People reflect God’s glory throughout the earth. When you read all the way to verse 31, you discover what God thinks about his creation: It’s “very good.” This declaration (“Very good!”) applies to every human person. As descendants of Adam and Eve, we all carry God’s image. We all have dignity. There is only one human race, and each member of humankind is God’s image-bearer. People from every tribe, nation, ethnicity, and of every skin color all bear God’s image. Because this is true, we should celebrate the differences in our languages, cultures, and ethnicities, understanding that God’s beauty is reflected in people from all over the world.
But because of our first parents’ sin—and as many of us have learned in our history classes in school—not all people believe that every human person has inherent value as one of God’s image-bearers. If we fail to understand and live in accordance with this truth, we will not treat all people with the dignity and love that God commands.
In Leviticus 19:33–34, God gives the Israelites instructions on how to treat the sojourner, or foreigner, who lives among them. He tells Israelites to welcome sojourners, to love them as if they were an Israelites like themselves. Although the sojourner was from a different nation and culture, God called the Israelites to love them as if they were part of their own nation. God has called us, as Christians, to love those around us who are different from us in the same way.
Think about it!
Use some questions to review the story with your family.
These questions are built just for STUDENTS.
What does Genesis 1:26–27 tell us about human beings? In whose image are they made? In Genesis 1:31, what did God say when he surveyed everything he had made? What do these passages tell us about the value of people with different skin colors?
How has sin impacted the way people view or think about others ? What stereotypes or prejudices about other groups of people have you encountered? Can you think of a time when someone you know may have felt uncomfortable because of their skin color, ethnicity, or nationality? How do you think God wants you to respond in this situation?
How do you think God wants you to treat other people made in the image of God through your thoughts, speech, and actions?
Remember It!
Take a few minutes to review our catechism question, memory passage. You can sing the memory passage song and dance along to the second worship song about new life in Jesus.
Memory Passage: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14
Big Picture/Catechism Question:
Why did God make you? God made us to enjoy him and show his glory to others.
Review and Pray!
Here are some great ideas to review this lesson in your own family.
These activities are built just for KIDS.
SAY: We see our image when we look in the mirror. But when God looks at us, he sees his image. All people have dignity because we are made in God’s image.
Guide your child to cut a five-inch circle out of construction paper and a four-inch circle out of aluminum foil. Glue the foil circle on the paper circle to create a mirror and write “Wonderfully Made” on the rim.
At the end of your devotional, take time to pray. Give God thanks for the fact that he made the world and all things in it, and praise him that you have the honor of being made in the image of God.