By Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Yebuah, Pastor of Sunrise Presbyterian Church
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Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:27
““So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them” — Genesis 1:27 (NRSV)
We move through life surrounded by people of every background — some speak our language, some do not; some share our customs, others bring traditions unfamiliar to us. And yet, beneath every accent and across every border, one truth binds us together: we all bear the imprint of God’s face.
This divine image is not confined to citizenship or skin color, education or legal status. It graces the child crossing a desert, the mother at a border, the father searching for work, the student learning a new tongue, and the elder longing for home. They, too, carry God’s likeness — not a diluted version, not a shadow, but the same holy image breathed into all creation.
When we see immigrants, refugees, migrants, and newcomers, let us look again. Let us look with the eyes of Christ — who was once a refugee in Egypt, who had no place to lay His head, who welcomed the stranger, healed the outsider, and crossed every barrier of fear and difference.We are most alike not in our passports or our politics, but in our sacred origin. We are kin because we are all made by God and for God. To deny this image in another is to diminish it in ourselves
Hymn Reflection:
As “O God, We Bear the Imprint of Your Face” reminds us, that the image of God is not static — it calls forth action. It summons us to love, to serve, to break bread with those on the margins. This imprint is not only a mark of identity but a mission of compassion.
May we listen to this hymn as a prayer. May its melody awaken a deeper seeing, a fiercer compassion, and a gentler spirit. Let it move us to recognize, protect, and celebrate the image of God in every face — especially those the world forgets.
Prayer
God of all people, help us to see Your face in the faces of others — especially in those who journey far from home, who live between borders, who long for safety and belonging. Teach us to welcome, to bless, and to remember that we are most like You when we honor the divine image in every human soul. Amen.
