Scripture: And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
My oldest nephew, at twenty years old, has the same broad shoulders and buzz haircut that his dad has. Their voice can sound the same on the phone too. No wonder sometimes I confuse my nephew with my brother. In English, when a child and parent look alike, we say that they are the spitting image of each other.
When God created Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, he made them “in His own image”. Here, image does not necessarily refer to physical characteristics, but rather, to God’s character. God, who is righteous, kind, and loving, also gave humans the capacity to do right, to be kind, to love. When sin entered the world, however, some of those God-given characteristics in humans were diminished.
Those who have been adopted as God’s sons and daughters, God is transforming them into His likeness, so they look more like Him. Through the trials of life - that job loss, illness, persecution, financial trouble, divorce - God is transforming His children so they think and respond to these trials with God’s perspective and love, not with their human inclination.
A dear friend of mine lives on the second floor of her building. There used to be a large mirror at the top of the stairs on the wall, so when I reached the top step, I was accustomed to turning and looking into the mirror. Now, that mirror has been replaced by a framed poster of the names of Jesus. Out of habit, I still turn and look, but now, what I see is not my reflection but words that describe Jesus. That is what I want for my life: for people not to see me, but to see Jesus. I want to look more like Him.
My oldest nephew, at twenty years old, has the same broad shoulders and buzz haircut that his dad has. Their voice can sound the same on the phone too. No wonder sometimes I confuse my nephew with my brother. In English, when a child and parent look alike, we say that they are the spitting image of each other.
When God created Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, he made them “in His own image”. Here, image does not necessarily refer to physical characteristics, but rather, to God’s character. God, who is righteous, kind, and loving, also gave humans the capacity to do right, to be kind, to love. When sin entered the world, however, some of those God-given characteristics in humans were diminished.
Those who have been adopted as God’s sons and daughters, God is transforming them into His likeness, so they look more like Him. Through the trials of life - that job loss, illness, persecution, financial trouble, divorce - God is transforming His children so they think and respond to these trials with God’s perspective and love, not with their human inclination.
A dear friend of mine lives on the second floor of her building. There used to be a large mirror at the top of the stairs on the wall, so when I reached the top step, I was accustomed to turning and looking into the mirror. Now, that mirror has been replaced by a framed poster of the names of Jesus. Out of habit, I still turn and look, but now, what I see is not my reflection but words that describe Jesus. That is what I want for my life: for people not to see me, but to see Jesus. I want to look more like Him.