I wonder what your immediate thought is when you look in the mirror first thing in the morning. Do you reel back in shock? Are you surprised at how tired you look? Do you smile at how tremendously good looking you are today? Do you notice another pimple or blemish that cries out to be squeezed? Do you carefully inspect for an extra wrinkle or another missing hair from your hairline?
What if instead your first thought was to reflect on how you are made in the image of God? Imagine if first thing every morning you took a moment to praise God for what He has done.
In this passage Solomon reminds us of the significance of being made in the image of God by writing that God has set eternity in the hearts of men. In Genesis 1 we read that God forms and shapes the heavens and the Earth and He fills his creation with heavenly lights, plants and animals. God pronounces this creation good. But He isn't finished yet. Finally He creates man and sets him apart from the rest of creation by saying, "Let us make man in our own image." Mankind alone is made in God's image. Solomon's statement reflects our creation and reminds us that we are different, we are made in God's image, made with eternity in our hearts.
Think about this for a moment. God has made you in His own image. God has set eternity in your heart. This makes you incredibly precious to God and incredibly valuable.
The Psalmist bursts out in praise to God at this: "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." God takes tremendous care with everything He makes. He was involved in every moment of your formation: When you were being formed in your mother's womb, He was involved. When you were born into this world for the first time, He was involved. In every moment of your childhood which shaped you to be the person you are today, He was involved and active. When you were lost in your sin and far from Him, He saw fit to suffer and die to bring you into relationship with Himself.
That image that you see in the mirror first thing in the morning is a wonderful, good creation of God, one that He has been working on for years and one that He died to redeem. Your value is not tied to your appearance, it is tied to Him. How does this change the way you see yourself in the mirror today?
Prayer: Write down your prayer points in the space provided. Use today’s reading to help you get ideas.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
ª Pray for the ladies pamper night happening at Christlife tonight. Pray that many women from the community who don't know Christ would come along and hear about His love for them. Pray that the women would feel valued and precious through the pampering, the fellowship and the other women.
ª Pray for all the children in the congregation at your church. Pray that God would give their parents great wisdom and grace with their children. Pray that the children would know Jesus and love Him. Pray that God would work in their hearts that they might grow up to love and serve Him.
My Additional Prayer Points.
1/.
2/.
1. How does the fact that mankind is made in the image of God change the way you treat others?
2. We live in a world that is obsessed with outward appearance. The Bible teaches instead that God is more concerned with our hearts. What would it look like to look after our hearts every day like we look after our appearance?
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