“Let us make human beings in our image…”

Genesis 1:26
This little scripture, spoken by God at the beginning of creation and reinforced after the flood (Gen 9:6), is a description of our identity and purpose, it is the foundation of who we are, who God created us to be…We are created in His Image.

But what does this mean? Do I really reflect anything similar to God and if I do, what does that mean for God, as I am far from perfect? Our identity as a person created in the image of God can be best understood as a process, a process that happens in relationship. In 2 Cor 3:18 it says “We…are progressively being transformed into His image…which comes from the Lord” (amp).  It is as we go deeper in our relationship with God that we see more of who He is and He progressively transforms us to be like Him.

A perfect example of this can be found in Matt 16: 13 - 19.  Jesus is talking to His disciples asking them who people say He is, and they rattle off the most common beliefs, but then He asks them personally who they think He is, and Peter boldly declares, “You are the Messiah, the Son of God.”  Peter was able to declare this because he had spent a lot of time with Jesus, as His friend.  The more time that he spent with Him, the more he understood who Jesus was.  The interesting thing about this revelation is that it also changed Peter, as Peter declares the truth of who Jesus is, Jesus speaks strength and stability into his life and continues the progressive transformation for him to be more like Jesus. As Peter discovered who Jesus was, he also discovered who he was, his God identity. 

Many of us are trying to work out who we are, when what we should be focusing on is who God is. 
 
An Invitation
When Jesus called his disciples he promised them, “Come follow me and I will make you…” He is still promising the same to us.  I would like to encourage you to take some time this week to get to know Jesus. 
John 4:1 – 26 is a great place to start.
 
If this is the first time that you have heard about having a relationship with Jesus, please click on this link, which will take you to a page that explains it more.