Matthew 20:27-28 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His [a]life a ransom for many.”
Indian Navy [CC BY 2.5 in (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/in/deed.en) or CC BY 2.5 in (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/in/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons
As we look into the faces of others, we are to see the image of God, speak to the image of God, act as if God was present (because He is), and honor the image of God stamped on every individual regardless of ANYTHING!. This awareness of the image of God in man and within us as individuals changes the way we make decisions; the way we treat others with whom we completely disagree; the way we vote, drive, behave in the checkout line at WalMart, react to injustice, and chose our charitable giving. By seeing the image of God in others, we honor the Creator. “Smiling at anyone is to awe at the face of God.” (Ann Voskamp) When we speak kindness into the life of another, reach out a hand in compassion, offer emotional support, or gift a smile we are reflecting the Savior and bringing light into the darkness of our sphere of influence. In the words of John Piper, “images are made to image. Others look at the way you act, think, and behave and then determine ‘God is great’ or ‘God is not so great!’”
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. – 1 Peter 3:15-16
By focusing on the image of God in man we will reflect the hope we have in Christ and THIS is what will prompt others to ask us about the hope we have. This is the best evangelism: The seeker initiates the questions and we are ready to provide the answer. Who could have known a smile can be a seed sown for the kingdom in the dirt of life. See the light in others and treat them as if this is ALL you see! Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer.” This is how Jesus related to everyone with whom He came in contact.
Each homosapien on this blue-green marble spinning in limitless space is stamped with the likeness of Almighty God: Imago Dei. We are able to communicate, make decisions, have emotions, work, be creative, appreciate beauty, are eternal, have a conscious, and have limitless potential. All this and more are characteristics of our Creator. Jesus came to redeem this image of His Father because He loves His Father and His crowning creation: mankind. We are “predestined to become conformed to the image of Jesus,” (Romans 8:29) who is the exact representation of His Father. (Colossians 1:15) Oswald Chambers wrote in his classic work, My Utmost for His Highest, “the aim is to manifest the glory of God in human life, to live the life hid with Christ in God in human conditions. Our human relationships are the actual conditions in which the ideal life of God is to be exhibited.” Communion restored. Paradise found. Peace abounds. We breathe–free. The limitlessness of God, we still have only scratched the surface of HIs infinite worth and ours in His eyes. It is in seeing how valuable we are to Him that we BEGIN to understand the worth of every single human in whose likeness they were created..
The Bible Project “The Image of God”
https://youtu.be/yDRWttzYjG4
Ravi Zacherias “We Are Made in The Image of God”
Father,
We worship YOU in Spirit and in Truth, our Creator, Redeemer, Guide, and Friend…………
Thank you for the unspeakable gift You have given in creating mankind in Your image.
