How can I show my respect for human life?

Life Focus - Bible Studies for Life - Lifeway Student Quarterly - Winter 2009

Week of January 18, 2009

Life Question: How can I show my respect for human life?

Monday

Adam knew his wife Eve intimately, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said,"I have had a male child with the LORD's help." Then she also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of a flock, but Cain cultivated the land. - Genesis 4:1-2

We need to recognize life as a gift. When Eve gave birth to Cain, she knew that it was a gift from God.

Tuesday

In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. - Genesis 4:3-8

In this passage we see how destructive self-centeredness can be. Self-centeredness blinds us to the reality of situations and people.

Can you see a parallel between the sin of Cain and the present-day sin of abortion?

Wednesday

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's guardian?" Then He said, "What have you done? Your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground! So now you are cursed [with alienation] from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood you have shed. If you work the land, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."

But Cain answered the LORD, "My punishment is too great to bear! Since You are banishing me today from the soil, and I must hide myself from Your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me."

Then the LORD replied to him, "In that case, whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over." And He placed a mark on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him. Then Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. - Genesis 4:9-16 (HCSB)

Cain's act of selfishness cost him dearly. This is the cost of putting ourselves before God and people around us.

Can you think of situations in your life where self-centeredness ended up creating problems?

Thursday

Adam knew his wife intimately again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, for [she said,] "God has given me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him." A son was born to Seth also, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD. - Genesis 4:25-26

When Eve gave birth to Seth, she recognized that the child was a gift from God. This is a major reason why taking human life is wrong.

Calling on the name of the LORD may have been public worship. Man has a natural need to worship God. It has been in us since the beginning.

Friday

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not [only] for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. - Phil. 2:1-4

This passages has a message for us on many levels. In the context of the sanctity of human life, it encourages us to look out for the interests of others. The "others" include the unborn and the elderly. In God's eyes, they have great worth. He loves them too. And so should we.

Saturday

Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. - Rom. 12:9-13

This is in the practical section of Paul's great Roman letter. It seems this passage is a list of imperatives (commands) that help us understand how to relate to one another as Christians.