Human life is sacred because it reflects the image of God — To take life unjustly is to attack God Himself.
FOCUS TEXT: Exodus 20:13
This weekend at Anchor Church, we opened the weighty command, “You shall not murder.” In just two Hebrew words—lo ratsach—God draws a divine boundary around human life. In a world where life is too often dismissed, devalued, or reshaped by our preferences, this command calls us to a higher vision: to see every person as sacred, made by and for the Giver of life. It isn’t merely a prohibition against violence—it’s a call to worship, to honor God by honoring His image in others, and to live under His authority from the heart outward.
TRUTH #1: God Is the Author of Life — Life belongs to its Creator. In Genesis 2:7, God breathes “the breath of life” into Adam, and Job declares, “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life” (Job 33:4). Deuteronomy 32:39 reminds us, “I kill and I make alive… and there is no god beside me.” Every heartbeat is sustained by His mercy. To take life unjustly is to assume His sovereign role. The command “You shall not murder” anchors us in the truth that our lives—and the lives of others—are gifts, not rights we may revoke at will.
TRUTH #2: Every Human Is Made in God’s Image — Genesis 1:26–27 tells us that every person bears the imago Dei. From the unborn to the elderly, from neighbor to enemy, each soul reflects God’s own dignity and worth. Murder is not simply a social crime—it is a theological rebellion against the One whose image is stamped on every life. Genesis 9:6 makes this explicit: “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” When we dehumanize others—through violence, prejudice, or indifference—we reject the divine craftsmanship in them.
TRUTH #3: The Sixth Commandment Is a Moral Boundary in a Culture of Death — Cain’s murder of Abel (Gen. 4) was the first act of human violence—and its echoes fill our headlines today: abortion, mass shootings, euthanasia, trafficking, and systemic injustice. Romans 1:29–32 charts how a society that rejects God spirals into envy, murder, and celebration of evil. Psalm 106:37–38 warns that when a people absorb the world’s idolatry, they even sacrifice their children. God’s command is a bright, holy wall against every devaluing of life. It stands as both protest and protection—calling us not only to refrain from violence, but to safeguard the vulnerable.
TRUTH #4: Jesus Is the Fulfillment of Life’s Value — Jesus didn’t abolish this command—He embodied it. On the cross, the perfect Life-Giver was murdered, absorbing the darkest violence of humanity (1 Pet. 2:24). He rose again to defeat death and usher in abundant life (John 10:10). The gospel declares that even murderers find mercy at Jesus’ feet. Now, by His Spirit, we become peacemakers and life-protectors. We don’t simply avoid harm; we actively defend, restore, and value every person as one for whom Christ died.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
Do I truly see every person—born and unborn, neighbor and stranger—as bearing God’s image?
Where have anger, contempt, or silence devalued someone in my life?
How might God be calling me to speak life and pursue peace this week—in word, deed, or prayer?
PRAYER RESPONSE: Father, thank You for giving us life and for calling us to honor what You have made. Forgive us for the ways we’ve devalued others—in word, attitude, or action. Purify our hearts by Your Spirit and empower us to be people who protect life, speak reconciliation, and reflect Your mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
MEMORY VERSE: “You shall not murder.” — Exodus 20:13 (ESV)
