What does "His Image" Mean?
Reading: Genesis 5
My Verse: "This is the book of the generations of the offspring of Adam. When God created man, He made him in the likeness of God" (4:1).
Oh, LORD God, You know how often I have pondered this statement. That we were created in Your likeness - Your image. What exactly does that mean? How are we to understand this statement?
Many writers have said that we should understand this to mean spiritually - in Your spiritual image. This comes to that concept that we have the consciousness of You stamped on our very being. We are each born with an innate sense of right and wrong. Though many want to deny that You exist, they cannot explain this away.
We must then understand Who You are in order to have an idea of what it is to be in your image.
Tozer speaks to the great -vital- importance of thinking rightly about Who You are.
Jesus gave us some hints.
"If you really knew me, you would know my father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him" (John 14:7).
"God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship Him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).
I think that because You are God our understanding of Who You truly are can only be in part - a very small part. You are too vast and incomprehensible for our limited ability.
I also believe LORD God that You give us all the understanding we need for each day if we but put ourselves before You and Your Word daily. Your Word tells us so much. Galatians 5:22-23 says much about Who You are and how we are to be like You.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
You are love. "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:8).How powerful is that! Oh, LORD God teach me to love as You love - selflessly, unconditionally, powerfully.
You are joy. In You only can one find true, deep abiding joy. This is not mere happiness but joy!
You are peace. "And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7. It is only when one has this deep abiding peace can one truly function effectively in this world, which at times seems so chaotic.
You are patience. "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Oh, LORD, thank You for Your patience. Help me to not grow weary in my prayer for those that need You!
You are kind. Some think of you as a bit of a tyrant but just reading the Bible shows how amazingly kind You are, how tolerant You are of those that deny and abuse You. Help me to exhibit that kindness to others.
Oh, LORD God You are good, faithful, and gentle. I am to be all these things as well. And finally, self-control. I am to have self-control that hardest of attributes for us to live out in our lives.But here too You promise to help us. "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power; of love and of self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7).
What a wonderful thing to be in Your image! My understanding of this concept may not be complete but it is enough for today. Thank You!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Reading: Genesis 5
My Verse: "This is the book of the generations of the offspring of Adam. When God created man, He made him in the likeness of God" (4:1).
Oh, LORD God, You know how often I have pondered this statement. That we were created in Your likeness - Your image. What exactly does that mean? How are we to understand this statement?
Many writers have said that we should understand this to mean spiritually - in Your spiritual image. This comes to that concept that we have the consciousness of You stamped on our very being. We are each born with an innate sense of right and wrong. Though many want to deny that You exist, they cannot explain this away.
We must then understand Who You are in order to have an idea of what it is to be in your image.
Tozer speaks to the great -vital- importance of thinking rightly about Who You are.
Jesus gave us some hints.
"If you really knew me, you would know my father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him" (John 14:7).
"God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship Him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).
I think that because You are God our understanding of Who You truly are can only be in part - a very small part. You are too vast and incomprehensible for our limited ability.
I also believe LORD God that You give us all the understanding we need for each day if we but put ourselves before You and Your Word daily. Your Word tells us so much. Galatians 5:22-23 says much about Who You are and how we are to be like You.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
You are love. "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:8).How powerful is that! Oh, LORD God teach me to love as You love - selflessly, unconditionally, powerfully.
You are joy. In You only can one find true, deep abiding joy. This is not mere happiness but joy!
You are peace. "And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7. It is only when one has this deep abiding peace can one truly function effectively in this world, which at times seems so chaotic.
You are patience. "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Oh, LORD, thank You for Your patience. Help me to not grow weary in my prayer for those that need You!
You are kind. Some think of you as a bit of a tyrant but just reading the Bible shows how amazingly kind You are, how tolerant You are of those that deny and abuse You. Help me to exhibit that kindness to others.
Oh, LORD God You are good, faithful, and gentle. I am to be all these things as well. And finally, self-control. I am to have self-control that hardest of attributes for us to live out in our lives.But here too You promise to help us. "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power; of love and of self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7).
What a wonderful thing to be in Your image! My understanding of this concept may not be complete but it is enough for today. Thank You!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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