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Gleanings From The Word

Tag: genesis

  • Chickadee – an amazing bird

    a black capped chickadee sitting on my

    The black-capped chickadee is an amazing little bird. They are cute, friendly, and have a sweet song, but they also have some amazing characteristics you might not know about.

    Each year, the chickadee’s hippocampus sheds memories of the previous year and develops new patterns to remember the location of every seed it stashed away. It is estimated that they can remember 100,000 seeds. Scientists are studying this to learn how memory works.

    A chickadee can go into a state of semi-hibernation. Their internal body temperature can drop nearly 50 degrees (F) allowing for far less energy usage. I extreme cold.

    Chickadees remember faces that fill their feeders and more. Being naturally inquisitive, other species of birds watch them to see if an area is safe before moving in.

    Such a little bird, made in such a complex, specialized way. How much more so does that apply to humanity, being made in the very image of God?

    So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

    I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14

    Every human being has intrinsic value. Every life is important to God. We need to remember that when we look down on or dismiss others because of their lifestyle, melanin levels, gender, socioeconomic status, or anything else. 

    We’re called to love and compassion. We’re called to share the gospel. We’re called to be in the world not of it.

    Jesus died for them, just as He died for us while we were yet sinners and enemies of God.

    Like other birds watching chickadees to see if things are safe, people are watching us to evaluate the claims of Christ. Is He safe?

    May your life reflect the fruit of the Spirit and the love of Christ.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    God Provides for the Chickadees (and for us)

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  • Reflections on the image of God

    Reflections on the image of God

    evergreen trees reflected in a puddle

    A simple photograph of an evergreen tree reflecting in a puddle. There’s nothing unusual about it. You can’t see the tree itself, but you know it’s there and what it looks like.

    Even if someone walks through the puddle, you’ll still see the reflection; it won’t be as clear, but it will be there.  That’s the nature of reflections.

    In a way, the bible talks about reflections. It uses the word image.

    “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…’
    So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”     Genesis 1:26-27

    We are created “imago Dei” in the image of God. Our lives reflect Him. All people carry that image to some degree, even if it sonly hows the absence of God in their lives. He is still magnified because the absence of God in some lives shows the difference of having Him in someone’s life.

    Every person’s life has value because it is in the image of God, that is, ontological dignity.

    We are designed to be in relationship with God and others. His image gives us relational capacity.

    Since we represent God, we are to show His character. That is our moral vocation.

    As image bearers, we are given dominion to manage, not exploit the resources He gave us (or every type). We have representative dominion – we act as His ambassadors and stewards.

    Believers have a calling to better representation since we have been saved and Holy Spirit dwells in us.

    Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Colossians 3:5-10

    What kind of an image are you reflecting. If people watched the puddle of your life, would the tree be seen more clearly over time? Would God be magnified even more by the way you represent Him, and compared to Jesus over time?

    May the imago Dei be ever more clear in you. May you bring Him more glory day by day.

    Be blessed

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