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b'Bullying. It\\u2019s painful to experience. But here\\u2019s the thing: I don\\u2019t know bullying\\u2019s pain because I\\u2019ve been bullied. I know its pain because I have been the bully.\\nI\\u2019ve made fun of people. I\\u2019ve gossiped about people I didn\\u2019t like. I\\u2019ve secretly judged the so-called \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153losers.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d But, because I was a Christian, I thought I was different from bullies. I wasn\\u2019t one of those people, right? But I was one of those people. I was a bully.\\nIt took a long week\\u2014full of conviction, tears, and prayer\\u2014for Jesus to help me see that reality, changing my life and outlook. I realized I wasn\\u2019t just hurting the people I was mocking, teasing, gossiping about, and hating. I was hurting Jesus, the One who died for my sins, including bullying. I was not acting like I belonged to Him. I was taking God\\u2019s creations, made after His own image, and raising myself above them. Like I was better than them.\\nBut I\\u2019m not. I\\u2019m a sinner, and I need Jesus\\u2019 grace\\u2014just like everyone else. Bullying is a sin because it forgets that every person was created in God\\u2019s image. Basically, making fun of other people is hating on God and His good creation.\\nAs I sought to turn away from the sin of bullying, Jesus was with me\\u2014working in me to make me more like Himself. I apologized to the people I hurt. God was humbling me so I saw myself not as better than others but as equal to them in God\\u2019s eyes. I started to see people as wonderful, interesting creations of God Himself, even becoming friends with people who were still being hated on by others.\\nNo matter how badly we\\u2019ve messed up, Jesus can restore us and use us to become a light to others who are struggling. He redeems us from our brokenness and gives us the opportunity to share His love and truth with others. \\u2022 Natalie Gilkinson\\n\\u2022 Why is it important that (1) God created all people in His image (Genesis 1:27) and (2) we are all sinners in need of Jesus (Romans 3:11-12, 23; 6:23)? How do these truths affect the way we see those around us?\\n\\u2022 If you are a bully, are being bullied, or are seeing bullying happen, who is a trusted adult you can talk with about it? \\n\\u2022 If you have questions about sin and how it affects all of us, check out our \\u201cKnow Jesus\\u201d page.\\nRich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all. Proverbs 22:2 (NIV)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nGenesis 1:27; Psalm 139:13; Matthew 5:14-16'