What does it mean to be an image-bearer of God? The phrase image of God, often referred to as imago Dei, comes from the very first book of the Bible. In Genesis 1:26, after creating the whole world from nothing, God turns his attention to something extraordinary: “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us,” God declares. (nlt).
When we come across the word image in Genesis 1:26, translated from the Hebrew word ṣelem or tselem, meaning idol or statue—we get a glimpse of what God is up to.
What we discover is this astounding piece of information: God, who stands wholly opposed to any graven images or false idols (Exodus 20:4-6)—God, who for all intents and purposes is an iconoclast—allows himself to be represented by living, breathing images: you and me. The infinite God chose to make for himself embodied agents infinite, physical, and imperfect human beings. In other words, you are God’s living statue.
Each of us, with all our uniqueness and differences, is a small representation of a piece of God. This is why, when people—women, children, ethnic minorities, and many others—are abused and degraded, God’s heart is grieved. For within each one of those mistreated souls lies the precious image of God.
Though the imago Dei within us cannot be diminished, oftentimes, we allow others to make us feel like it is. The false narratives we’ve been given about who we are and our place in this world causes us to hide the parts of us that God made uniquely, parts that show a piece of God every time they see the light.
It can be hard to live in such a way that you allow the imago Dei within you and within others to be seen, honored, and celebrated. And yet there is nothing truer about us than how we were made. In God’s very own image. A representation of who God is right here in tangible presence. Shine forth bravely who you are, sharing your voice, your gifts, and yourself. You are offering the world a picture of God. In a world easily distracted by counterfeits, show the people around you a living statute of the one true God.
It can also be helpful to begin reflecting on some way you were meant to reflect God’s image to the world around you. Here are some questions to get your prayer-life and your heart dreaming about why God has planted you where you are, in this season, as his “living statue”: Ask:
- What are some ways God uniquely made you? How does that reveal a piece of who God is?
- What reflections of God does the world need right now? How can you embody the essence of the Lord in your sphere of influence?
- Why does understanding imago Dei matter so much in this cultural moment? How can the church help to honor the God-given essence in all of humanity? In what ways has the church failed in this? Where do you see hope and change?
And remember this –
The power that brought the swirling stars, the dazzling snow, the summer sunrises, and the entire cosmos into existence; the power that put-on flesh, bore a cross, and conquered death and evil—that same power calls you His beloved “living statue”.
We can live our lives striving and working for this name, hoping that tipping the scales by doing good or proving our worth will make us loved once and for all. Or we can look at all the ways we have fallen short and believe that this is a name we can never claim as ours.
Yet, whether we live in striving or in shame, God’s love for us is unaffected by our overcompensation or our underperformance. His love is ours. Our name is Beloved Image Bearer.
God’s great love for you simply and profoundly is, because God is, simply and profoundly, love. God loves you and speaks goodness and delight over you, not because you have earned it or achieved it. Because you exist, you are worthy of love- and worthy to reflect God’s love to a world that desperately needs it.
About the Author:
Aubrey Sampson is the co-host of the Nothing is Wasted Podcast and the Common Good Talk Show. She has her Masters in Evangelism and Leadership, speaks at conferences and church events all over the country, and is the author of three books- Overcomer, The Louder Song, and Known, plus two more books on the way. She is a contributing writer to Propel Women and Christianity Today’s The Better Samaritan. Aubrey is passionate about the church developing a less anemic theology of suffering and empowering you to share your story, for the glory of God.
Connect with Aubrey:
@aubsamp
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