Living in Increase (Part 1) - Increase in UnderstandingSample

Creation

Knowing the “big picture” of the Bible helps one to understand the storyline of the Bible. It also makes it easier to recognize how each book of the Bible fits into that storyline. The first part of the metanarrative we discussed yesterday is creation. Genesis 1 tells us about God the Creator. God created the heavens, earth, birds, plants, and animals.

Genesis 2 gives an account of God creating man in His image or Imago Dei, which means “Image of God.” We were made in the image of God, which means we can portray who God is to others. Being image-bearers has great implications. There is humility in knowing that our value is not found in what we do or how much we have but rather in who God is. And one of the most incredible things about being image-bearers of God is that we each get to represent God in different ways! Knowing that we each display different characteristics of God helps us to treat others with respect because we are image-bearers.

What if we started to think of ourselves and others as image-bearers made in the likeness of God? How might this change how we treat and speak to ourselves and others? This process of identifying our worth in God the Creator isn’t self-help. It recognizes that a good God has shined His light upon us with the confident hope that we will recognize Him and reflect His glory to all creation!

Ruby Washington

Action Step: Meditate on what it means for you to be an image bearer of God. What does it imply about God’s character? What does it imply about your character?