Why Life Is Sacred - The Crosswalk Devotional - January 22
Why Life Is Sacred
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading:
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” - Deuteronomy 30:19
Why are so many people choosing death over life these days? If asked, many individuals might disagree, not realizing what they are doing.
Still, when we consider our culture’s views on the sacredness of life, we see the reality that individuals are choosing abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, suicide, and more.
Because death is a popular choice for so many people, it’s more important than ever for us to speak out and help lead others to choose life over death.
As Christians, we recognize that those who reject Jesus are choosing death, rather than receiving the life God gives us.
A Day Set to Choose Life
Every January since January 22, 1984, many Christians observe Sanctity of Life Day, a day set aside to commemorate God’s priceless and sacred gift of life.
The United States' 40th President, Ronald Reagan, first issued the national proclamation setting aside a day to honor life and remember the millions of lives ended through abortion.
It’s a day to remember those who can’t speak for themselves, committing to pray for and protect their life at every age and stage. Proverbs 31:8 urges us to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”
Like Deuteronomy 30:19 urges, we, who are believers in Jesus Christ, are daily called to choose life over death, to believe that life is sacred.
So, how do we put this into action daily? By choosing life through the words we speak, write, and communicate about it to ourselves, friends, family, community, and the world at large.
Speaking Influential Words
As Proverbs 18:21 reminds us, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Whether we realize it or not, the words we choose to speak and write influence those who hear and read our words. Because they do, it’s vitally important, a matter of life and death, that we celebrate and support life for those around us.
Choosing God’s Truth
God describes the very beginning of humankind, of their sacredness of being made in His image, as Genesis 1:27 describes, “So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.”
Christians who replace biblical truth with other ideologies are choosing creator-less options, calling God a liar, along with removing the need for a Savior and devaluing life.
But as believers in Jesus Christ, we are called to embrace and cherish the sacredness of life, of the truth of being formed in the image of our amazing Creator, who breathed His breath of life into us.
There should be no doubt in our hearts and minds about who created us, the One who formed us with His own hands and has called us priceless in His sight. As Genesis 2:7 explains, God is very clear about where humans began and by whose hand. “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
Sanctity of Life Remains
Nothing changes God’s truth about life and the sacredness of it, despite the world’s efforts to promote abortion, assisted suicide, and selecting and euthanizing those who have physical and mental issues and disabilities, various illnesses, and the elderly.
God’s plan for each individual is life, as Psalm 139:16 describes: “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.”
Men and women, from the womb to the grave, are God’s glorious, sacred creations. As Psalm 8:4-6 describes, “What is mankind that You are mindful of them, human beings that You care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of Your hands; You put everything under their feet.”
Intersecting Faith & Life:
How are we speaking about life? Are we sharing with others the sacredness of it?
Further Reading:
10 Things Christians Can Do to Celebrate Sanctity of Life Day
How did today’s devotional speak to you? Share your thoughts in the Crosswalk Devotional discussion.
Photo Credit: @adroman
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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