Created in his image

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27  ß Old Testament. Original design.

“Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” NLT Colossians 3:10

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

“Put on your new nature, created to be like God, truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:24

THE DESIGN:  You are created in God’s image, to share his nature of righteousness and holiness. You have to learn to know him to become like him. You were created for a purpose which he planned in advance for you.

THE CHURCH:  Believers who place their faith in God and look to him as LORD. You and I make up the church. US. We are the church.

THE PROBLEM:  We want to make others in our image. We want a mold, a detailed standard that we can understand and measure ourselves and each other against. Besides Jesus. Some choose Paul. The outcast tends to like Peter better. Some follow pastors or teachers. But most have given up on the idea of actually living like Jesus.

THE JUSTIFICATION:  Jesus was fully human. Yeah. BUT he was God too. So there’s that. I’m not God. Are you saying you can be like God? Isn’t that prideful?

THE SOLUTION:  Jesus says “All authority has been given unto me.” That’s Jesus speaking. Saying “hey guys, I’ve got the keys to the kingdom. You want them? Here they are. Who has faith?”   Can you stop looking to the You Tube evangelist and read the red letters? Can we stop buying every book hoping for a new formula that will finally work? Because “dying to self” is too hard. But nothing else works folks. And he made us to rely on him. We were made for a purpose for which he equips us when we come to him by faith.

THE DECLARATION:  I will stop trying to mold people in my image or my “idea” of what a good Christian looks like. I will meditate on God’s work and focus on the life and words of Jesus MORE than the other apostles, prophets, and disciples. I will not take my pastor’s or any other authority figure or just anyone I think knows more than me about the Bible’s opinions, stance, or view over what Jesus lived and taught.

Can we BE the church that Jesus was trying to set up? Can we stop with the walls and the sects and the divisions? Let LOVE be your sect. Let VULNERABILITY replace your walls. Ask the Lord for wisdom and he will guide you through the tough things. Let’s say “enough” already to valuing other people’s opinions over our Father’s. His approval is the one we need to crave the most. And may He give us the grace to walk in this now.

P.S.  Don’t tell me “Lord, help” isn’t a prayer. For he is near to the broken hearted and he does not hear you because you speak fancy church talk or say the exact right formula of faith talkin’ prayer. Matthew 6:5-7  He sees your faith more than you can pretend to have it. Your faith is shown by your actions. Show me your faith by your life. Stop talking at me and over me just to be heard.  ßAnd this I say to myself. My voice must be less and his voice must become louder. John 3:30 

No more condemnation. My/Your restlessness is a yearning to be LIKE him and WITH him. Because we were created for more than walking around with our measuring sticks bound up in comparisons.

And this is the truth that will set you free.   Ready?   YOU ARE FREE! 

"God made him who had no sin to BE sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  ß  Meditate on THAT!