**Let's open our Bibles!**

Find the book of Genesis, chapter 1, and verses 26 - 27.  Read these verses or ask your mom or dad to please help you.

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”  Genesis 1:26-27

Chapter 2 of the book of Genesis helps us understand a little more about how God created the first two people. 

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”  Genesis 2:7

Next, we see that God didn’t want Adam to be lonely: 

“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” Genesis 2:18

That's when He decided to create a woman to be Adam’s wife!

"And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him.  And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;  And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man.  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man."  Genesis 2:20-23

“And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.”  Genesis 3: 20

Adam named his wife Eve, because she was the first mom!

God made all human beings special; they are made in His image.  He gave us a soul and put us in charge of taking care of the plants and animals that He created!

“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.”  Genesis 1:28-30

When we look around us in the world today, we see many different kinds of people.  All humans have different types of bodies and maybe different skin or hair color . Some of us may not be able to walk, hear, see, or talk!  There are no two people exactly alike!  If we should meet twin sisters we might notice that, even though they look quite a bit alike, there’s always some way to tell them apart, even "identical" twins. Maybe one has a freckle on her nose and the other does not!!  During our life we will meet lots of people, and they will all be different from each other.  Still, no matter who we are or what any of us looks like we all have one very important thing in common!  Do you know what it is?

God created and loves us all!!!

Each and every person has been made special by God.  Let's read what King David wrote to God in the Bible about the way He made him:

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”  Psalms 139:14

Like David, we are wonderfully made!  Because we are God’s special creations, He has given us His special book, the Bible, so that we will read and learn how to obey and please Him.  In the Bible we read about all the wonderful things that God’s Son, Jesus, did for others.  He healed the sick, fed the hungry people, talked with those that nobody else was kind to and He loved everyone around Him even when they were mean to Him!

In John 13:34, Jesus tells us how we are to treat the people around us:

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”  John 13:34

Let’s look at the next verse now, so we can find out WHY we should love one another:

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”  John 13:35

We need to love one another so that others will know we are Christ's disciples, or followers and then we can help them follow Him too!

Let’s see if you can answer some questions!

1.  Did God make men and women in His image?                                             

                        Yes       No

2.  Does man's soul make him different from the animals God created?                                Yes       No          

3.  Are all people exactly the same?                                                                 

                        Yes       No

4.  Will other people look or act differently than you?                           

                        Yes      No

5.  Are you wonderfully made?                                                            

                        Yes       No

6.  Does God love everyone no matter how different they are from you?           

                        Yes       No

7.  Should we love others just like Jesus loves us?                                            

                        Yes       No

8.  If we love others, will they be able to tell that we want to follow Jesus? 

                        Yes      No

Project Time!

Supplies:

*An old magazine that mom and dad won’t mind you cutting up             

*Construction paper

*Glue

*Scissors

First, go through the magazine and find pictures of people that are different from you.  They might have different color of hair, eyes or skin.  They might be older or younger than you.  Find as many as you can and ask a grown-up to help you cut out the pictures.

Second, at the top of your construction paper, write (or ask a grown up to write):  GOD LOVES US ALL!

Third, glue all the pictures you can on your paper and remember that you are special too!  Maybe mom or dad can give you a picture of yourself to glue on there also!

Remember that God made us all and we are all very precious to Him!

Mind Your Morals

Lynda Sander

www.stgcoc.com