13th Sept 2023 Prayer and Fasting for the Unborn: Day Eleven - Are infants made in the image of God?

Love Australia
Aug 28, 2023
4 min read

Updated: Sep 5, 2023

‘Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them’ (Genesis 1:26-27).

Worship

Devotion

Bible Reading: Genesis 1:26-27;

The Bible understands that we have to be very careful in terminating the life of another human as killing someone without good reason is murder.

Why is murder so wrong? The Bible teaches us that God has made all humans in the image of God: ‘Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them’ (Genesis 1:26-27).

To be made in the image of God is understood to mean many things, including that human beings are like God and represent him on earth like no other creature. Therefore to murder someone means you destroy one of God’s representatives on earth and such an action is, not surprisingly, roundly condemned by God: ‘Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man’ (Genesis 9:6).

But is an embryo made in the image of God? Once conception takes place and two cells become one, a unique human life has begun. To define the beginning of human life at any other stage is very difficult. The only difference between an unborn human and a born human is their location, size, level of dependence and level of development. None of these differences suggests that an embryo does not bear the likeness of God.

So when we look at an infant, we see God displayed. Which means if we destroy that image, we destroy a view that we have of God himself.

Do you recognise that abortion is wrong because all humans are made in the image of God?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for giving us an image of yourself in ourselves and other human beings. We ask that you would forgive us for not valuing the lives of humans as we should. Help us to have a high view of other people and to protect all life out of respect for your image and a love for you through your Son Jesus, who is the true image of the invisible God. In his name we pray. Amen.

Prayer Points:

· The churches and believers in Sydney to have their hearts listening to Gods heart for September 23rd Love Sydney – Walk for Life 2023. That as we stand for life as one we are of one accord and reveal Jesus to the powers of darkness.

· Those on the frontline preparing for the Love Sydney Walk for Life 2023 2pm in Hyde Park near the Archibald Fountain, the leaders, volunteers, and guest speakers. For good working sound systems, technicians, security, parking, great weather and more people have all obstacles removed to be able to awaken and come out to stand for life.

· Success for media coverage, for the word to spread to all the righteous.

· Protection for everyone in the pro-life movement – all to be hidden and effective! Psalm 91

· We pray for every state and territory of Australia to come together to stand for life! For hearts to be awakened and every Christian to rally to rescue the unborn as the church rises up to Walk for Life Sydney 23rd Sept 2023 “Walk for Life Adelaide” 10th Feb 2024 and “March for Life” Brisbane - date TBA, Mackay “March for the Babies” October, “March for the Babies” Saturday 7th Oct 2023 Treasury Gardens to the Melbourne Parliament, Melbourne. Pray for every Territory and State in our Nation to join in and hold rallies and walks for life in their cities.

These current Pro-Life Issues before Parliaments:

· Pray that abortion will not increase in Australia. The ACT Government has announced it will provide free abortions from mid 2023.

As Medicare sadly already cover the costs for all Australian women having abortions this is likely to be for overseas students, those on work visas and those here on holiday having abortions paid from Australian taxes.

This is currently being debated in the Upper House in Western Australia - their Abortion Legislation Reform Bill 2023 has been labelled by some as the most radical abortion law in the world. Pray they include the 4 clauses from the South Australian Termination of Pregnancy Act 2021.

· Pray that The Human Rights (Children Born Alive Protection) Bill 2022 be passed speedily in 2023. This Bill will protect babies who are currently, in most States of Australia, being left to die after a failed abortion. This protection for such babies is currently law in NSW (2019) and SA (2021) as amendments to the state Termination of Pregnancy Acts. This Federal Bill, if passed, will make this legislation National. Pray for protection for the three Federal Senators Alex Antic (Liberal Party) Matthew Canavan (National Party) and Ralph Babet (United Australia Party) who presented this Bill 30/11/2022.