So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27
God gave form to the earth and filled it. He filled the waters with fish, the air with birds, and the land with all sorts of animals. And then He created us! Imago Dei, Latin for “the image of God”, is what sets people apart from the animal world. Only we were created in His image. Not physically, as we might resemble a parent, but we are a reflection of His glory. We reflect His character, His heart, in the way we love, in our kindness, forgiveness, patience, and faithfulness. We can never be totally like Him, but when we stay close to Him, our hearts will look a lot more like His than if we don’t.
Since we are created in God’s own image, He has given each of us special characteristics to be used for His purposes. We have been called to serve Him with the uniqueness He has so generously given. But often, rather than celebrating our differences and seeing our purpose in God’s Kingdom, we focus on all that we are not, rather than all He has created us to be. We desperately try to fit in with others, rather than living the set-apart life He calls us to live. We allow envy and jealousy to dictate how we see ourselves and others, and comparison becomes the filter through which we view every person and every new experience. When we cling to the world’s warped, upside-down measurement of our worth, we allow those false measurements to define us and dictate how we live and how we see others.
What difference might it make if you allowed love and grace to rule your heart, rather than envy and comparison? You are a living, breathing image of your Heavenly Father, being shaped and transformed by His very hand. Knowing that you are created in His image, that your self-worth is built into you by God, is the only solid foundation for your life. Therefore, Imago Dei is the only filter through which you must view this world and everyone in it. Ask Jesus to help you see and love people the way He does. Not divided, not the “I’m-right-you’re-wrong attitudes that flood the news and our social media. When you live with your heart in tune with His, your joy will be contagious, your heart will invite others to know and love Jesus, and your love will shine brightly in this dark world. You are loved!