When we speak of being made in the image of God it is not just our looks or our physical make up that are like God. As humans we are God’s counterpart in that God gave humanity total dominion over the earth. God created humans with a freedom of choice to make the decisions necessary to have this dominion. Sin has tempted us to use that privilege of dominion for selfish pleasure. Personal communion with God is what being made in the image of God is all about. It is a relationship in which we become God’s counterpart, His representative and His glory to the earth. It is our duty as His counterparts to figure out how God would act in our place. When God gave humans dominion over the world, He gave us the earthshaking power and freedom to shape our world. We have been charged with the care of creation, and charged with the opportunity and responsibility to act like God acts in creation. . . to use our gifts, energy, wisdom, strength, and creativity .. to benefit God’s creation. Today people are not making decisions to better humanity or creation, but rather to protect their own self-interest. … READ MORE

Genesis 1:26-30 challenges the diminished notions we have about human value. We live in a society that desperately needs to understand that each person is uniquely valued and blessed by God. How wonderful it would be if each child started life knowing how incredibly precious they are. This is not an effort to deify man, but rather it is an effort to teach us God’s estimation of each of us. Until we judge ourselves as God judges us, relationships will continue to fail, and the moral and ethical dilemmas we face in regards for respect of human dignity will only continue to increase. According to Psalm 8:1-9 we are told that God has crowned us with glory and honor and has given us dominion over the earth. God has created us with certain creative abilities, and certain authoritative abilities, that allows us to co-rule this realm He has created with Him. Take these thoughts with you today, as you tackle the World. You will find hope and perspective in the midst of your circumstances.… READ MORE

How do we know people? Our bodies only reflect to the world who we truly are. The only way that we can truly know another person is to get to spend time with them, personally. Bodies point us to who someone is, but our bodies are not really us. They are designed to enable us to function in this physical world, and represent to others who we are. We need to remember that the outside does not reflect the truth about us. We spend so much time reflecting on the outside, that it often shapes what we think about ourselves. We must not let the physical realm shape our self value judgments. We must allow the Word of God to do that. With that in mind we are reminded in Genesis 1:27 that we are created in the image of God. As such God has made and shaped us especially for the specific purpose God has for us. According to Genesis 9:6 when sin entered the world, that did not destroy the reality of us being created in God’s image. If this is true, why do we not recognize that principle today? The reason is because Sin mars our perception … READ MORE