Wednesday July 15, 2020

Genesis 1:27
So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

1John 4:7-8
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

You were created in the image of God. This is one of my favorite things to remember and proclaim. Because each of us, no matter our beliefs, race, background, gender, abilities, desires, mistakes, successes, or any other distinguishing factors, have been made in the image of God. Even if you don’t believe it, I know it to be true.

But what does it mean to be made in the image of God, an entity that we can’t see or touch? It means we are made in the image of LOVE. God is love. God cannot be anything outside of love. So you and I carry the ultimate likeness of love in our soul. And because God is not bound by time, space and form, the image of love is not bound by these either. So the LOVE in you can take all sorts of forms. It can show up in you and me in a myriad of ways. But it yearns to show up. LOVE seeks to be known, to be demonstrated, to be shared. The image of God in you, LOVE itself, is longing to envelop you, every part of you, every word, action and thought. LOVE yearns to spill out into the world, to light up your mind, heart and soul, thus spilling out to others.

Your soul and very existence are rooted in love. We are each called to live into and out of that love. The task of doing so may seem daunting, but let me encourage you to see this as less of a task, and more of a gift. The life you desire, one of peace and joy, is rooted in you already. You simply have to connect to those roots of love.

What does it mean for you to be made in the image of LOVE?
How can you connect to this gift that already exists in you?

Lord, I pray that I become rooted and established in your love. Remind me of this gift, one I have held since birth. Let me live into the image of LOVE, in all my ways of being. May love guide all my actions, words and thoughts.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.