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SCRIPTURE: Genesis 1:1-2, 24-31 “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (v26 NRSV)
OBSERVATION: God made the beasts of the earth and all living creatures “after his kind” and in Genesis 1:26-27, God crowned all of His creation with man, for whom He had fully prepared the creation for his abode. Only where the true idea of God is known is the true idea of man and history understood.
Man’s creation differs from that of the animals in that he is made “in the image and likeness of God.” This points to the dignity of man. After God’s likeness, man is an intelligent being, endowed with a will and a moral nature and is to exercise dominion over the rest of creation. The subsequent entrance of sin blurred this likeness and rendered him impotent to fully carry out the purpose God intended for him. It is only through Jesus Christ, the second Adam, that God’s purposes are realized.
After reading six times that God saw what He had created “was good,” we read, “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.” This leaves us with no doubt as to the perfection of His creation as it came into being by His Word.
APPLICATION: Look at yourself in a mirror . We do this so many times in our lives. Sometimes it’s for tidiness or pure vanity. Take a long hard look without vanity, false modesty, without fear, and ask God to show you how he sees you.
Look at your hands:no one has had fingerprints like yours.Look at your eyes; no one has eyes like yours. The retina at the back of your eye is unique, just like a fingerprint. You are a unique human being and God loves you.
Look at some part of yourself that you don’t like. We all have things that we would like to change – things that make us feel inferior. Ask God how he feels about that part, see it through His eyes. God’s idea of beauty isn’t the same as ours. Jesus said “look how the wild flowers grow: they do not work, or make clothes for themselves. (Matt 6:28 GNB)
Look at some part of your body you have wronged or mistreated. Paul said “If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it. (1 Corinthians 12:26 GNB) Ask God to forgive you for mistreating that unique part of His creation.
PRAYER: God, thank you for creating me in your image. Change my perspective to live more in this reality and to see life through your eyes. AMEN
