SCRIPTURE: Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27 NIV
QUOTE: Nothing is unchangeable but the inherent and unalienable rights of man.
– Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States, Author, Declaration of Independence
THOUGHT: Genesis 1, the very beginning of the story of God and man, records four times in two verses that humans are made in God’s image and likeness. God’s stated purpose that we should be stamped with his likeness flows out of his desire that we may rule as he does, wisely, full of grace and truth.
It’s not a stretch to imagine that wise self-rule precedes ruling wisely over creation, and Matthew Henry, in his commentary on Genesis 1:26-27 comments, “Yet his government of himself by the freedom of his will has in it more of God’s image than his government of the creatures.”
The thing we can never forget is that God gave us this freedom – these rights and privileges – before there was a Declaration of Independence. They are the foundation upon which the Declaration was built, and its author, Thomas Jefferson, said everything else might be changeable, except the inherent and unalienable rights of man. These are given by God and no man can change the fact that we are made in God’s image, although many will try, and many have forgotten.
The Garden is the place where freedom was born, and although we live in a fallen world, the imago dei is restoration worth fighting for.
PRAYER: Oh God, you made us in your image and likeness and gave us the capacities and faculties for self-rule and creation-rule. The freedom and image you gave has been defaced, devalued, sometimes discarded. Forgive us for taking your words and gifts too lightly, and restore in us the dignity you stamped us with.
Dear Reader,
I’m glad you’re along and I pray you will be blessed, challenged, and encouraged in your faith by something you read here.
There are archives by topic below – now more than 1000 of these daily meditations to browse.
ABOUT ME:
Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
Check out Walking When You’d Rather Fly, and learn more about the book and Amy’s other ministries. You will also find her devotional work at Words of Hope.
FREE TO YOU:
If you’d like to be notified of this blog each weekday, please look for the little blue “follow” button below (just above the topical search), and welcome!
asipoblog.com 