February 26th, 2025

Read Genesis 1:27 NIV

So God created mankind in his own image,

    in the image of God he created them;

    male and female he created them.

Read Mark 12:29-31 NIV

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

What we believe: We believe humankind are created in the image of God as free moral persons

It always kind of blows my mind when I contemplate the idea that I am made in the image of God. But what does that really mean? It means that who He is, His character, is a part of who we are meant to be. His kindness is a part of who we are to be to the world. His love is what we are to express to those around us. His generosity, His sense of justice and protection for those most vulnerable, His forgiveness, His patience, His joy… you get the point. That’s what it really means to be created in His image – that we would act in ways that honor His character that is built right into us, toward the world around us.   What a beautiful and holy purpose that gives us when we choose to follow Him with our lives! We get to be a picture of what God looks like to the world He created and loves so much! 

God, 

Thank you for creating me in your image. You didn’t have to, but you chose to. You chose to give me your compassion, your tenderness and love. You chose to instill in me your sense of justice and care for those who are vulnerable and you chose to give me your heart that longs for forgiveness. What a gift that truly is. It humbles me and it honors me that you would choose to have others see me through you. Help me to choose daily to allow your character to mold and shape my will so that more of you shines through to the world around me.  Let there be less of me and more of you. Amen.