One day as I was looking in the mirror, I realized that I had my grandmother’s ears. Obviously, my ears also must look like my mom’s, but she died when I was twenty-five, and Grandma was in my life until I was fifty-four years old. Beloved, as you gaze in the mirror, whom do you look like?
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1: 27 KJV.
We are studying Genesis this year in Bible Study Fellowship. I always ask God for a newness when I read a chapter in the Bible that is familiar or read many times.
Image of God
So look at the above verse, three times God tells us in this verse that He created us:
- God created man in his own image
- in the image of God created he him;
- male and female created him them.
The word “Image” is used in the Bible 147 times. Image is defined as a representation of the external form of a person or thing in art. The Biblical definition of an image–theological term-is applied uniquely to humans, denoting the symbolical relation between God and humanity. … To say that humans are in the image of God is to recognize the special qualities of human nature, which allow God to be made manifest in humans.
Beloved, this last sentence says it all, the special qualities of our human nature. God allows us to share in his image of kindness, forgiveness, and many others.
From the BSF notes lesson 2, “The Hebrew “adam” refers to mankind, both male and female. The repetition emphasizes that God views human beings, made in His image, as the high point of His creation.
Father God, thank you for making us in Your image. Thank you that you instill in us the ability to relate to others and to love others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
May I admit that I have not always appreciated my appearance, I’ve often felt ugly, fat, yes, I’ve not always appreciated my ears, yet today as I focus on the above verse, my image that others see is physical and yet what they relate to is an internal image that God has given me, one that loves people and is kind, forgiving, and caring.
Beloved, which characteristic of God, do you manifest? Which characteristic do you want to develop?
