All Lives Matter
God created all people from every nation, background and race to become partakers of His divine nature.
Forbes published an article in March 2013 called "The 3 Things All Humans Crave—And How To Motivate Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere" by Christine Comaford. In the article, she touches on the three things that are essential to the brain and one’s ability to perform at work, at home, and in life overall: safety, belonging and mattering. Notice mattering is one of the three. Everyone wants to matter, and everyone should matter! Comaford goes on to write, “In every communication, in every conflict, we are subconsciously either reinforcing or begging for safety, belonging, mattering or a combination.” We all need to matter!
"Black lives matter" is the rallying cry of a community in crisis. Do black lives matter to God? Of course, because all lives matter to Him! When we kneel down to pray to Him, does He look at the color of the skin before listening and responding? No. “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 New International Version). Why? Because all lives matter to God.
1. We are all made in the image of God
“God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). Notice the words “human beings”—that means all!
2. We all have the same opportunity with God
“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6, emphasis added throughout). Notice that opportunity to please God extends to anyone.
3. Christ died for all of us
“He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them" (2 Corinthians 5:15). Notice the word everyone.
So how should we follow His example and make everyone feel they matter? By practicing the the Golden Rule—to treat others as you want to be treated. My life matters; your life matters!
"'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God'" (Romans 14:11). Eventually, every knee will bend to God. Why? So they can be blessed. Christ said to “seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33, New Living Translation). That promise extends to everybody, regardless of race.
Seek God first and His righteousness, and then go out and treat others in a way that is pleasing to God. Because all lives matter!
Course Content
Janet Treadway
Janet Treadway was born in Washington, D.C., but was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. She started attending the Church of God with her mother at the age of 14 along with her twin brother, Jim.
She was baptized at the age of 19 in 1974. She has been involved in various activities, such as serving as the managing editor of UCG’s first teen magazine UsTeens, which was distributed worldwide and published in English and Spanish.
Janet’s first love is writing. She has contributed many articles in various publications such as Vertical Thought, Virtual Christian Magazine, United News and others. Her article “Take Action, Your Life May Depend on It” is also featured in the reprint “The Cycle of Abuse.” Janet draws from her own life’s experiences and challenges when she writes and is motivated to give readers hope that God will see them through anything.
Janet has worked in the home office of the United Church of God since 1998. She is married to Charles Treadway and has four children, David, Michelle, Michael and Josh, as well as six grandchildren and two granddogs, Jo Jo and Vinny.
