Thought of the Day !!

Then God said, "Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life – the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals, and small animals."

So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them.

God blessed them and told them, "Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals."
Genesis 1:26-28 (NLT)

Did you realize that God created you in His own image? If so, what exactly does that mean? Does it mean that God has arms and legs etc.?

Actually, John Wesley answered this question in his sermon entitled "The New Birth". He claimed that we were created in God's natural, political and moral images. First is the natural image of God. We were created with the emotions that God has like anger, sadness and joy. As a part of God's natural image, we were also created as eternally spiritual beings, having a soul that would last forever, just like God Himself.

God governs the universe and everything in it, including you and me. According to Wesley we were created in God's political image, being the caretakers (masters) "over all life - the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals, and small animals."

Then the most important way that we were created in God's image is in the fact that we were created with the ability to know right from wrong. This is one of our greatest gifts, as well as one of the most misused. But when used properly, we can go on towards Christian perfection.

I agree with Wesley on these three ways in which we are created in the image of God. But I believe one more way should be added. We are also created in God's relational image. God has been in a relationship since the beginning. "In the beginning was the Word (Jesus). The Word was with God. The Word was God." This shows that Jesus has been since the beginning. Also, we can look to this scripture reading where God says, "Let US make people in OUR image, to be like OURSELVES." God is referring to the Three-in-one here, the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

The Holy Trinity is a triangle in relationship to each other and we are created with what Augustine calls a "God-shaped void" in us. The void can only be filled with the relationship with God that comes through His Son Jesus. In this way, we were created to be in relationship, just like God.

In the love of Christ,
greg