"Let Us make man in Our own image, according to Our likeness; ... God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created them."
Gen 1:26-27
Gen 1:26-27
I am mediating this morning on what it means to be created in the image of God. What a mind blowing thing to try and grasp about our God. I mean that he would choose me to reflect, resemble, and bear his image ... I mean God out of nothing spoke through the power of His word everything I see and all that I am into existence! The Hebrew word used here for "create" is never used in the context of human creativity ...instead it is only given to God...who can take that which never was and make something that is! And what is so amazing is that He chose us as the pinnacle of all that He created to reflect his image!
And so as I meditate on that thought...I ask myself how am I doing in reflecting and resembling and bearing the image of God to my family. I mean as I look at my 3 boys...I can see how each one of them "bear" aspects of my own life. I mean take Jon Jon for example, he is my mini-me, ...whatever I do he does. Matthew, he has my strong will...his way or no way... and of course Billy, he has such an incredibly tender heart for God and passion to reach out to others. And so if the purpose of my existence is to KNOW God deeply and make Him KNOWN... then how am I doing at that in my own home. Months ago I asked Billy my oldest son on the way to baseball practice "what words came to his mind when he thought about Jesus?" He said, "loving, compassionate, sacrifice, giving..." And as I sat listening to his response it hit me.... if that is the Jesus he sees, then I better make sure that that is the Jesus I live!"
The bottom line is this...they will worship (or not worship) the Jesus I live at home. If they are following me wherever I go...the question becomes where am I leading them and who am I leading them to? I do think I do a good job of directing their behaviors ... (this is what we do...this is how we do it....) but am I simply raising up another generation of "doers" instead of "be-ers"?
My hearts desire is that my 3 boys would passionately follow Christ out of a pure & simple devotion instead of a religious duty! My prayer today is that I would authentically and accurtely reflect the Christ who was, who is, and who is to come in such a way that it would lead them to know, love and worship God with all their heart, mind and soul!
Not Ashamed....Bill
And so as I meditate on that thought...I ask myself how am I doing in reflecting and resembling and bearing the image of God to my family. I mean as I look at my 3 boys...I can see how each one of them "bear" aspects of my own life. I mean take Jon Jon for example, he is my mini-me, ...whatever I do he does. Matthew, he has my strong will...his way or no way... and of course Billy, he has such an incredibly tender heart for God and passion to reach out to others. And so if the purpose of my existence is to KNOW God deeply and make Him KNOWN... then how am I doing at that in my own home. Months ago I asked Billy my oldest son on the way to baseball practice "what words came to his mind when he thought about Jesus?" He said, "loving, compassionate, sacrifice, giving..." And as I sat listening to his response it hit me.... if that is the Jesus he sees, then I better make sure that that is the Jesus I live!"
The bottom line is this...they will worship (or not worship) the Jesus I live at home. If they are following me wherever I go...the question becomes where am I leading them and who am I leading them to? I do think I do a good job of directing their behaviors ... (this is what we do...this is how we do it....) but am I simply raising up another generation of "doers" instead of "be-ers"?
My hearts desire is that my 3 boys would passionately follow Christ out of a pure & simple devotion instead of a religious duty! My prayer today is that I would authentically and accurtely reflect the Christ who was, who is, and who is to come in such a way that it would lead them to know, love and worship God with all their heart, mind and soul!
Not Ashamed....Bill
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