Your image

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We all have an image.  Others see us in a certain way.  We may see ourselves in another.

But it is God's view of us that matters, and His alone.  

So how exactly does God see us?

Well, when we are born again, He sees Jesus in us.  This is indeed a miracle!  Since none of us are remotely like Christ in and of ourselves, this truth is amazing.

We are all created in God's image.  This in itself makes us worship our Creator!

But the fall of man distorted that image in us, to say the least.

But Jesus came so that His image could be once again formed and maintained in us.

Several things vie for our image.  The world would try to mold us into its image, which is not in our best interest, though it is tempting to think so.  The world wants you to believe you can be self-made, that you need no help from the Lord.  But what is left is an outer shell with little substance on the inside.

The devil would like to ruin and destroy our image beyond recognition. This is the scariest of all possible scenarios and yet we see by the atrocities in the world that the devil has indeed taken some to be his.  We see his image in man's rebellion against God, in hatred and strife, and in every evil thing.

If we make ourselves in our own image, it may appear to work on the outside.  But God is not fooled!  And the only ones who can stand before Him on Judgment Day are those who belong to Him - those whom He sees Himself formed in.  Because none of us have, in and of ourselves or "images," anything to offer God.  

Is this hard for you to swallow?  That we are not "good enough" in and of ourselves?  But this is not an attack on your "self-esteem" to make you feel bad about yourself.  It is a call to realize that you need God!  Will you answer the call?  Can you admit that you need Him as Lord and Savior and that He alone can form an image in you that is worth anything?

Lord Jesus, thank You that it is possible to know You!  Thank You that You choose to form Yourself in us, that You are in the restoration business.  Thank You that it is possible to reflect You in this world as we submit ourselves to You and let You have Your way in us.  Help us obey You, Lord Jesus, so that You may be glorified in us.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

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