When Do We Look the Most Like God? - The Crosswalk Devotional - June 19

When Do We Look the Most Like God?
By Lynette Kittle

“So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them” - Genesis 1:27

Scripture tells us we are made in God’s image, but when do we look the most like Him? We often think our physical likeness resembles Him most, like our hands. Psalm 118:16 says, “The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” As well, Psalm 34:15 refers to His eyes and ears: “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry.” We relate to being made in His physical image and through the abilities we have that are like God, such as hearing, seeing, and listening. These are capabilities that seem to come naturally to most of us.

Reflecting God
When do we look the most like God? Does being made in His image go deeper than our physical qualities and capabilities? Do we favor Him the most when we love each other? Is compassion a clearer image bearer of Him than our talents and abilities? Do we resemble our Father in Heaven more closely when we forgive one another? Finally, how is the image of God within us most clearly conveyed to the world? The following are three aspects to consider.

God Is Love
1 John 4:8 tells us God is love. So is it when we love others that we are the closest to resembling Him? Many of us have met someone who reminds us of someone we know. Often it’s not because of how they look but usually more about how they speak, move, and think. When we love others, we help to turn others’ thoughts to God by reminding them of Him. Corinthians 13 explains if we can do all kinds of things, but they aren’t accomplished with love, then we’ve fallen short. This includes failing to bear God’s image accurately.

God is Compassionate
Psalm 103:8 describes a compassionate God. “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” Do we most accurately display the image of God in our lives when we walk in compassion? Jesus modeled compassion on earth, and as Colossians 1:15 tells us, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” Many verses in the Bible also note His compassion towards men, women, and children. For example, Mark 8:2 describes how Jesus expressed God’s compassion up close to the multitudes at the feeding of the 4,000: “I have compassion for these people, they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.”

God Forgives…and Forgets
More Christians are willing to jump on the boat when it comes to being loving and compassionate. But often, when it comes to forgiving, they have reservations, conditions, and an unwillingness to do so. But what if forgiving others causes us to bear His image most deeply? Forgiveness is so much a part of God’s image that believers can’t escape how He is known for forgiving and forgetting. Hebrews 8:12 explains how perfectly and completely God forgives us:

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

So is it when we not only forgive but forget, by not holding sins against others, that we bear God’s image most closely? Colossians 3:13 urges, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” What if bearing the image of God most accurately involves forgiving others?

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Are you bearing God’s image through loving others, showing compassion, and forgiving those who’ve hurt you? If struggling, ask God to help you become an accurate representation of Him on earth, along with giving you opportunities to live them out in your daily life.

Further Reading:
10 Things You Should Know About the Image of God

Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.