by Elizabeth Haarberg

Finding our identity in God.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

Image.

The word itself brings a lot of different connotations for people, depending on the lens we’re looking through. Image can be positive and negative. The world expects a certain image, and the church another. Family, friends, and everyone have expectations of others that may, or may not, be realistic or healthy.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that the word “image” generates such an emotion. The original mention of image in creation is made quickly, in the beginning of the world.

“God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Genesis 1:27 ESV

God wanted this cemented in humankind. He wanted this expectation known from the beginning. To be made in the image of God is the highest form of love and outpouring. To make this a possibility, he gave humans all they needed to make it happen. He didn’t set us up to fail. He set us up to succeed.

God knew how the story would go from the beginning. He knew Adam and Eve would fall. He knew we would need a savior. He also knew the Holy Spirit would redeem the original plan He had for us in Eden.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart: I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33

We can be at rest in our identity, in the image God desires for us, because Jesus has overcome the hardships for us.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:5

How does Genesis 1:27 come to fruition? God worked it all out from the beginning. We are made in His image because He provided a way for that to happen.

The picture above is an image of my daughter and her friends. It’s an imprint of them. This is what God does for us. He wants to put His imprint, of Himself, on us and in us.

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit still work on our behalf today. All we need to do is surrender.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado