The older I get, the more people say I look like my mother. I can see it too, when I look at her pictures. I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is, but I know that there is a resemblance.  I can also see my daddy a little bit too. Especially if I am a bit irritated. Daddy used to kind of bite on the corner of his lip when he was upset by something. I see myself doing that too. I think that my ability to write came from Daddy also. He was quite a poet, and had a way with words. I am their daughter. I have a little of both in me.

My kids have some of both Mike and I, as well. To me, they both look like Mike. But to those who have watched me grow up (yes, there are still a few of those out there!), they tell me they see me in Kristy. Kyle, on the other hand, is the image of his dad. You could look at Kyle, Mike, Mike’s dad, and Mike’s grandad and see the ages of man. They all looked so much alike.

The Bible tells us we are made in the image of God. Does that mean we physically look like God? How can that be, since we all look so different from each other? No. What this means is that we have the characteristics of God living in us.

In The Image of God in Humanity, it explains, “The image of God in humanity is understood as mirroring God’s attributes in our nature, actions, and relational capacities. In Jesus, we see the true image of God.” The image of God in us is us showing the world God by our actions and our words.

If we are the living embodiment of God here on earth, how good a job would you say we are doing of reflecting that in our daily lives? I am pretty sure I know the answer here. We are made to live for God each day. We are made to show the world that every person has worth and value. David says in Psalm 139, “I will praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this full well… Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.”

Oh, there is so much in that verse. But David knew, as we should know, that we are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made. We are made to live out God’s love here on earth. To everyone. Not just those we really like. And certainly we are not to withhold that love from those that are not like us in some way. God’s love extends to all people. God’s image is alive in all of mankind.

I need to do a better job of showing God’s love in my daily life. Of showing that I am created in his image. Of reflecting God’s glory everywhere I go. How about you?

We are created in God’s image to make a difference. Live like it! It will make a difference!

By: Gina Caswell Kelly