In His Image

On the fifth day, after God had created light and land, vegetation and the stars, the sun and moon, and fish and animals of all kinds, He said,”Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (Genesis 1:26).

That “us” was the Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who were all there in the beginning. And if we continue to examine this passage more closely, the term “man” was interpreted from the Hebrew word adam, which has meaning more like the English word human. It means male AND female. So all of us bear our heavenly Father’s image.

But what did God mean by “our image,” “our likeness”? What is His imprint on you and me?

He has given us the ability to create, to imagine, to reason, to understand morality and complex language.

He has given us the responsibility and authority to steward his creation and to cultivate it.

And He has given us the capacity to be in committed and loving relationships with one another and with Him.

Every human is an image bearer of God, and every human is precious to Him. So much so that He sent His Son, Jesus, to give His body and blood as payment for our sins. That is how much He loves us, that is how much He desires to be in relationship with you and with me.

Dear Jesus,
As we explore this menagerie today, we ask for wonder and awe at the beauty and creativity of creation. After we leave this place, we ask that every animal we encounter — from butterflies to cattle, lizards to squirrels — reminds us how we are different. That we are image bearers of God, and we are deeply, wildly and completely loved. Thank you for today, for the friendship and the fun. You are good. Amen.