Genesis 1:26-31

For this week, read Genesis Chapters 1-4. Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking him to meet you and speak to you.

Bible Reading

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

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

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground-everything that has the breath of life in it-I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning-the sixth day.

– Genesis 1:26-31

Devotion

A man died and his tombstone said, “He came, stayed a while, and left.” What a sad, empty epitaph! But what if it had said, “He came, stayed a while, got married, worked at his job, raised a family, and left”? Even if it included, “He became a success in his career and made a pile of money,” it would still be missing the purpose for which God created us.

Why are we here and what is our purpose? That is the age old question, isn’t it? Fortunately, from the very beginning, God has had a plan and a purpose for our lives. Unfortunately, many of us don’t really know what that is and so we can become dejected and wonder if life has any worth at all. When we don’t understand our reason for living, we can make up our own purpose and live in a way that brings short-term gratification. Instead, knowing we are made in the image of God and have purpose should change how we live and bring us peace, joy, and contentment. You will be restless, confused, or lacking in fulfillment until you begin living in line with God’s purpose for creating you.

The Big Question

Man was made as the crowning achievement in God’s creative work. Only humanity (male and female) bears the image of God. What impact does this truth have on you – that you, among all of creation, are a divine image bearer, a small replica of God Himself?

Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.