In His Image

I have been thinking a lot these days about the phrase, "in His image," in the Bible in Genesis.

It seems that as Christians we take this one small phrase for granted. Yes we all get that it means we are created in to be like Him somehow. But what really does that mean? Did He really need to tell us that just so that we know he has a head and arms and legs? Jesus came in human form... so that answered that.

Or did God tell us this for a different reason?

maybe there's really something else about God that He wants us know.  You see I think his telling us that we were created in His image has more to do with how we relate and how we REFLECT that image than with what we look like or what you look like or what Jesus even looked like . I think it has to do with the whole ability to create, the ability to love, and especially our ability to forgive one another with grace.

In fact I think that the reason he told us that we were created in His image is because nobody can see God and so since we are His image it is up to us to help those who don't know him by our own lives.... so that through us, by looking at each other and getting to know one another we can get to know God, and get to know Jesus. And then we can begin to understand the nature of God . God here on earth in fact.

If we take this idea one step further I think we are meant to understand the nature of God to be one of a loving CREATOR, so that we can reflect that. One way is by our own creations - for example, we create when we write which then reflects who we are just as we are supposed to reflect who God is.

Think about it - only a few people you meet each day have read or will read the Bible, but if they know that you know God, then they should be drawn to want to read it by what they see in you. They may be watching you and come to know who HE is through you as His image. I think that's the key.

As the scripture says we are his workmanship created for good works in Christ, so I think we need to keep His image in mind as we project who we are to others. if we are not always always mindful of that in the things we do we will not be creating a good image of our Creator for others.

What kind of image are you showing of your Creator today?