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In February BC (Before Covid) we took Mum to Centre Parcs for a week and were joined by my sister and brother-in-law. During the week I created a caricature of myself on my phone using one of the Apps that do that sort of thing. The scary thing is that so many people have said how much it looks like me.
Every now and then the App creates new themes and in the past few weeks ones reflecting our current situation, with themes of keeping your distance, working from home and this one on washing your hands have been created. I don't know why or how but this got me wondering about being made in the likeness of God.
In my early teens I wondered what was meant by Genesis 1:27 – to be made in God’s image, and often thought:
Every now and then the App creates new themes and in the past few weeks ones reflecting our current situation, with themes of keeping your distance, working from home and this one on washing your hands have been created. I don't know why or how but this got me wondering about being made in the likeness of God.
In my early teens I wondered what was meant by Genesis 1:27 – to be made in God’s image, and often thought:
The Contemporary English Version puts it like this: "So God created humans to be like himself; he made men and women."
So how are we like God? Obviously not physically.
When we were on holiday in the Canadian Rockies a couple of years ago we were walking through the wonderful landscape of mountains, valleys and ice-fields. On one particular walk along the valley of The 5 Lakes the words of the song came to me;
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee:
How great thou art!
How great thou art!
And what hit me was not so much the verse although I was struck by all of the wonder around me and yes, I did start to sing, but it was the first 4 words of the chorus, “Then sings my soul” that struck a chord with me.
You see, I am not a singer in fact my daughter once said “Dad, you’re not too bad a singer, you’re pretty good at unprepared key changes and accidental harmonies.” I thought she was paying me a compliment!
However, one thing is for sure, whenever I sing to myself, in my head, I am always in perfect pitch, I can sing in any key, in harmony and can sound like any singer I like. This, it seemed to me must be what is meant by being created in the image of God, you see, In my innermost being, my soul, I am in sync with God, it is like I am in harmony with him, BUT it’s what comes out that is not! Just as in my singing, what is inside me does not necessarily stay ‘in tune’ when it is outside and audible/visible to others. What I display outwardly or what I portray is not very ‘godlike’ at times. The Apostle Paul had similar struggles see Romans 7:15-20.
You see, God did not create a caricature of himself when he made me or you for that matter. He made us to be like him to reflect his nature as The Message Bible puts it: “God created human beings; he created them godlike. Reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female.”
So my challenge is this; that I should allow the true inner self – that which is created godlike to take precedence over my outward self so that in everything I do, say and be I reflect what God would do, say and be. But boy, is it hard!
Caricatures may, or may not be good resemblances but they are never as good as the real deal.
Philippians 3:13 Living Bible (TLB)
No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,
It's a good job we are a continuous work in progress.
We sing the chorus penned by John Gowans:
To be like Jesus!
This hope possesses me,
In every thought and deed,
This is my aim my creed;
To be like Jesus!
This hope possesses me,
His Spirit helping me,
Like Him I'll be.
So how are we like God? Obviously not physically.
When we were on holiday in the Canadian Rockies a couple of years ago we were walking through the wonderful landscape of mountains, valleys and ice-fields. On one particular walk along the valley of The 5 Lakes the words of the song came to me;
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee:
How great thou art!
How great thou art!
And what hit me was not so much the verse although I was struck by all of the wonder around me and yes, I did start to sing, but it was the first 4 words of the chorus, “Then sings my soul” that struck a chord with me.
You see, I am not a singer in fact my daughter once said “Dad, you’re not too bad a singer, you’re pretty good at unprepared key changes and accidental harmonies.” I thought she was paying me a compliment!
However, one thing is for sure, whenever I sing to myself, in my head, I am always in perfect pitch, I can sing in any key, in harmony and can sound like any singer I like. This, it seemed to me must be what is meant by being created in the image of God, you see, In my innermost being, my soul, I am in sync with God, it is like I am in harmony with him, BUT it’s what comes out that is not! Just as in my singing, what is inside me does not necessarily stay ‘in tune’ when it is outside and audible/visible to others. What I display outwardly or what I portray is not very ‘godlike’ at times. The Apostle Paul had similar struggles see Romans 7:15-20.
You see, God did not create a caricature of himself when he made me or you for that matter. He made us to be like him to reflect his nature as The Message Bible puts it: “God created human beings; he created them godlike. Reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female.”
So my challenge is this; that I should allow the true inner self – that which is created godlike to take precedence over my outward self so that in everything I do, say and be I reflect what God would do, say and be. But boy, is it hard!
Caricatures may, or may not be good resemblances but they are never as good as the real deal.
Philippians 3:13 Living Bible (TLB)
No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,
It's a good job we are a continuous work in progress.
We sing the chorus penned by John Gowans:
To be like Jesus!
This hope possesses me,
In every thought and deed,
This is my aim my creed;
To be like Jesus!
This hope possesses me,
His Spirit helping me,
Like Him I'll be.
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Remember: 2mtrs........
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