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Gleanings From The Word

Tag: Image of God

  • In Charge: Finding Faith in Chaos

    In Charge: Finding Faith in Chaos

    Dark storm clouds over a vally with the text "Is anyone in charge?"

    The world is in chaos. Political divisions, economic messes, pollution, crime, hatred and more. It can feel as if God is slowly slipping out of sight. It makes you wonder, “Is anyone in charge?”

    The church is in chaos. It feels like we’re losing ground to competing worldviews, and people seem to be walking away from the faith. Churches struggle financially, and there are plenty of false teachers out there. It makes you wonder, “Is anyone in charge?”

    Sin is running rampant. It feels like the inmates are running the asylum. Relationships are breaking down, and people are more connected than ever before through technology, yet lonelier than at any time in history. It makes you wonder, “Is anyone in charge?”

    The answer is yes, someone is in charge, and none of this is a surprise to Him.

    In his letter to the church at Colossae, the Apostle Paul writes about Jesus.

    Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, And in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross—through Him—whether things on earth or things in heaven. Colossians 1:15-20

    Jesus is in control of all things. In Him, through Him and for Him. Nothing can thwart His plans. His victory was never in doubt and has already been accomplished.

    That’s why Paul could also write…

    For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

    The Lord is all-powerful (omnipotent), all-knowing) omniscient, and all present (omnipresent). He is ruler (sovereign), unchanging (immutable), non-created (self-existent) and outside of time and space (transcendent).

    Nothing in all of creation can thwart His plans for us or His creation. The church will always be, and believers will always belong to him. The answer to “is anyone in charge?” is clearly yes and amen.y

    No matter what you face today, because the Lord knows, He cares, and He is in control.

    Praise Him and give thanks no matter your circumstances.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God) 

    Be blessed 

    Kevin 

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    SUMMARY

    In a world that feels out of control, the Apostle Paul reminds us that Jesus is sovereign over all creation — nothing in heaven or earth can thwart His plans. Because He is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, believers can rest in the certainty that they are held securely in His love.

    KEY POINTS

    The chaos we see in the world, the church, and in sin is not a surprise to God

    Jesus created all things, holds all things together, and will have first place in everything

    Nothing in all creation can separate believers from the love of God in Christ Jesus

  • 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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