MAN MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD Devotion #15 of 17

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle , and over all the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them"

(Genesis 1:26-27)

SPIRITUAL REASONING Be perfect!

The Word of God appeals to the divine imagery in mankind: particularly through Jesus Christ. It summons us to the arena of contemplation and consideration. It also challenges us to hearty effort. Both are divine qualities. It is possible to view these appeals as harsh demands upon a helpless race. One can also consider them to be mere suggestions, far beyond the reach of any person. But this must not be our reaction. When the Lord reasons with us, He is challenging us to think and act as He does. How would this be possible if we were not, to some degree, like Him? We will require His assistance, to be sure, for without Him, we "can do nothing" (John 15:5). However, the very fact that He does assist and help us is proof that we are in His image. God does not "help" the oxen of the field, or the birds of the air--at least not in the sense He does mankind. For His strength to pass to us, there must be some similarity between us and Him. This similarity has not been developed by us. It is ours by creation, and remains with us in spite of sin that dwells in us (Rom. 7:17,20). Hear the Word of the Lord, and take it into your heart. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48). More than a command, this is an appeal--an appeal to the divine imagery within you. As you extend yourself to obey this Word, the Lord will empower you, enabling you to make significant progress. It is true, you will not be able to boast of moral perfection while in this world (Phil.3:10 ). However, when your conscience is "perfect" (Heb. 9:14; 10:1-4), or cleared from the guilt of sin, you will become more like your Father in heaven to a remarkable degree.

Be holy!

Unregenerate and defiled people explain why they have sinned. Those with the Spirit of Christ strive against their sin. As you walk by faith, focus is changed from rationalizing transgression to a determination to be holy. Candidly, that determination plays a significant role in realizing the stated objective. I realize that holiness is not fashionable in our day, but that is all the more reason for us to strive to "perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord" (2 Cor. 7:1). I am concerned that churches are content to register numbers of people that remain more like the world than God. Such a condition is contradictive of divine purpose, and will not be blessed by God. Hear the appeal of the Lord. "But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation" (1 Pet. 1:15). Every aspect of life is to be characterized by God-likeness. When this quality is absent, nothing else really matters. Large congregations, elaborate programs, and extensive activity all count for nothing if the people are not holy: if they are not like God. Holiness involves thinking like God, speaking like God, and working like God. Holiness reduces the basic variance between God and man.

Render to God the things belonging to Him

On one occasion, the "chief priests and scribes" sought to trap Jesus by a crafty question. They asked concerning the propriety of giving tribute money to Caesar--or paying taxes. Christ's answer challenges our thinking. "Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's. And He said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's" (Luke 20:24-25). The point of Christ's response was this: there is a higher issue than paying taxes! The correctness of that procedure is settled by the very nature of the currency of the nation--it belongs to those whose image it bears. Comparatively, the image of God is upon man, requiring that man give himself to God!

-- TOMORROW: SOME KEY SCRIPTURAL ANNOUNCEMENTS -- -- MONDAY: THE KNOWOLEDGE OF GOD --