Genesis1:26-27 "Then God said 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness'....So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."
John 15:9-12 "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: LOVE EACH OTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU."
What does it mean to you that you are created in the image of God? Do you think of it as a physical likeness or a spiritual one? Have you ever stopped to consider how you are God's image to those around you?
I have a sweet friend that came to me this week very burdened about a major life change she is facing. I could have remained across from her, handed her a tissue and told her it would all work out. This time I didn't. I gave her a tissue, then I held her and cried with her. I told her I would pray for her and I did. I don't yet know the state of her relationship with Christ, but I have an idea. She needs Jesus. She needed Him on Thursday and He was right there in the room - in me.
I don't always have such stellar moments. I get very impatient when the driver ahead of me does not realize that I should always have the right of way. I get angry and lose my temper, I say things I shouldn't say. I can have a royal attitude when the mood strikes me. I do not always display the image of God in a positive light.
In the Gospels, the religious leaders came to Jesus and tried to trap Him by asking whether or not they should pay the tax. Jesus asked them whose image was on the coin and they responded, "Caesars". From there we have Jesus famous reply, "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God that which is God's". The coin was stamped with the image of Caesar, but our very lives are stamped with the image of God. How are we rendering that which is His back to Him?
"Lord, I am so sorry for the times that I have portrayed You in a less than positive light. Help me to remember that the Christian life is impossible to live unless I allow You to live it through me - I can't do it. Because I am made in Your image, I pray that You would help me to see others through Your eyes, reach out to them with Your arms, and share Your heart with them."
John 15:9-12 "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: LOVE EACH OTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU."
What does it mean to you that you are created in the image of God? Do you think of it as a physical likeness or a spiritual one? Have you ever stopped to consider how you are God's image to those around you?
I have a sweet friend that came to me this week very burdened about a major life change she is facing. I could have remained across from her, handed her a tissue and told her it would all work out. This time I didn't. I gave her a tissue, then I held her and cried with her. I told her I would pray for her and I did. I don't yet know the state of her relationship with Christ, but I have an idea. She needs Jesus. She needed Him on Thursday and He was right there in the room - in me.
I don't always have such stellar moments. I get very impatient when the driver ahead of me does not realize that I should always have the right of way. I get angry and lose my temper, I say things I shouldn't say. I can have a royal attitude when the mood strikes me. I do not always display the image of God in a positive light.
In the Gospels, the religious leaders came to Jesus and tried to trap Him by asking whether or not they should pay the tax. Jesus asked them whose image was on the coin and they responded, "Caesars". From there we have Jesus famous reply, "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God that which is God's". The coin was stamped with the image of Caesar, but our very lives are stamped with the image of God. How are we rendering that which is His back to Him?
"Lord, I am so sorry for the times that I have portrayed You in a less than positive light. Help me to remember that the Christian life is impossible to live unless I allow You to live it through me - I can't do it. Because I am made in Your image, I pray that You would help me to see others through Your eyes, reach out to them with Your arms, and share Your heart with them."
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