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Imago Dei

God made some of his creatures with fur, some with skin, some to roar, some to squeak, some to crawl, and some to fly. Then He made us. The variety of his creation makes for an adventure. God wants life to be exciting and fun to live. When God created humans, they were vastly different from all animals because God gave us a mind for emotions, the will of intellect, and a heart that desires relationships. Certainly, He loves everything He created, but there is something special about humans.

Being made in God's image was uniquely assigned to humankind. When God created us in His likeness, He gave us authority over all creation and the responsibility to reflect His character. Being created in God's likeness does not mean we look the same as Him; instead, we are "like" Him. God shows emotion, has a will (though His will is perfect), and desires a relationship with us. A human variation of these character attributes was assigned to us. Remember, we are made in His likeness to inhabit the earth responsibly and have an exciting adventure in our relationship with God.

Jesus is the perfect image of a human visual of God. He is God in human form and the best example for us to reflect. When people see your emotional reactions, they should be reminded of Jesus. When they notice your decisions and your love for people, they should be inspired by your faith in Jesus just because you reflect the image of God.

Question: In Peter Scazzero's book, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, he writes, "It is impossible to become spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature." How closely do you reflect the image of God in your spiritual maturity (your emotions, your will, and your desire for authentic relationships with others)?

Prayer: When you pray, settle your heart in surrender mode. Remember: God loves you so much that he created you in his image. Thank him for making you so special, and take a moment now to invite God to deepen your spiritual and emotional maturity.