IMAGE OF GOD

Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

INSIGHT -In Hebrew, image of God is written as tzelem elohim, lit which means to cut out/ compare to God. -God created man in His image in this verse means, God gave man authority/ dominion to rule over all the earth.
-Man is an image of God’s authority & His likeness. -Everyone has a special calling on earth guided by the 7 spirits of the Lord like Bezalel in Exodus 31:3 as indicated in Isaiah 11:2 & Rev 4:5.

PRAYER: Lord God, I humbly come before Your Holy throne in humility. Have mercy on me & forgive me all my sins of thoughts, words & deeds. Guide me to know & accomplish Your will for my life & direct me with Your seven spirits in my calling. Let me be a true reflection of Your image & likeness in my thoughts, words & deeds. Amen.

Exodus 32:4 And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!”

INSIGHT -The Isrealites made an image of god in form of a golden calf when Moses went up Mt sinai to get the 10 commandments & took long to come back. -Aaron guided them as they worshipped the golden calf & gave it praise for the victory over slavery. -The image of god in this passage is a form of a calf representing idolatry.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You are the only true God. I give You all praise, honor & glory for everything that You have done for me. Let me be patient for You in all my strengths & weaknesses. Let me not be idolatrous in depending on witchcraft, other men in power or otherwise & money as a source of help. Let me always rely on You God forever. Amen.

Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

INSIGHT -Christ is the image & son of the invisible God. -Christ is the image of the love of God as He died for all humanity for our sins & resurrected to be the firstborn over all creation. -Christ is the head of the body, the church & by Him are all things.

PRAYER: Jesus Christ, You are the creator of all things; visible and invisible. You are the firstborn of the church & in You; I put my trust. Have mercy on me & strengthen my faith in Your love so that I may not relent in my Christian life. Instill in me deeper love for You, my family members, neighbours & friends so that Your will may be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen

1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

INSIGHT -We are the image of God if we love. -God is love & therefore we are sons of God if we love Him & love one another. -In John 3:16, God loved the world & gave His only son for us to have eternal life. -In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus says the two greatest commandments are; the love of God then the love for one another.

PRAYER: Abba Father, You are love; fill my heart with love. Love for You Lord and my neighbour. Let me be a reflection of Your love in all situations to illuminate peace in the world. I love You Lord & bless You forever. Amen.

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

INSIGHT -Image of God is seen in us as we progress from one glory to another. -In Rev 4:9-11, 24 elders & the 4 living creatures keep worshipping God as He reveals His glory in the throne room of Heaven. -The glory of God is reflected in our lives as we move from one spiritual, emotional, economic situation to the next just like the Spirit of God.

PRAYER: God my Father, thank you for the gift of life & all the gifts that You have bestored upon my life. Thank You for Your love & mercy as I move from one glory to the next. Fill me with Your Spirit Lord; so that I can be a true reflection of Your glory, authority & love. All glory, honor, praise, riches & power belongs to You Lord forever. Amen
Our Father who at in Heaven; Hallow be thy Name……

Please meditate on the theme, Image of God.