July 26, 2013

IN HIS IMAGE.

genesis127

In His image. We are created in His image. With care, with purpose, and with love. That's kind of an abstract thing to grasp, isn't it?

In a world that focuses on outer appearances, beauty contests, and never-ending comparisons, it's easy for me to wonder how I could be created like Him. I mean, how could a girl who has scars on her face be made in His image? How could a girl who isn't model-perfect be made in His image?

But it's when I take a moment to look beyond the surface I realize I am. My scars are there for a purpose. My body was made for a purpose. He sees all of it as beautiful and He sees my sin-filled heart as beautiful, too.

I was struggling with this again last night. I struggled with trust, I struggled with comparison, and I struggled with being good enough.

But, it's when I opened up His word and began my daily devotional that I realized we're not made to be perfect. We're made to be like Him but not Him. We're born to create as He created us, we're born to shine His light as Jesus did on earth, we're born to trust as Jesus trusted God and His plans, we're born to forgive as He forgives us, and we're born to love as He loves each and every one of us.

We're born to be like Him and we are created perfectly, but we're not perfect people.

Doesn't that bring a sigh of relief? It's a huge comfort to me. It means that I don't have to be perfect, I don't have to strive for perfection. I just get to live this life one day at a time, trusting Him, loving Him, loving others, and creating just as He created me.

Simple Moments Stick

Psst...to read more posts on being created in His image and to link-up with a post of your own, read more here. Thanks for letting my join in, Susannah!

22 comments

  1. What a wonderful post! You truly are made in the image of God, Kiki! There's no reason to compare yourself to others when you are God's princess!!! Thanks for joining in on the linkup!! :-)

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    1. Thanks, girl! It's so easy for me to turn to comparison when I know that there's no need to, so thank you for that sweet reminder.

      And thank you for this link-up! I'm excited to read everyone's posts now! :)

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  2. Love the connection you made with being like Christ is not the same as being Him. I struggle with wanting to be perfect all the time. Such a good reminder to forgive myself when I mess up :)

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    1. I'm with you! I struggle with trying to be perfect or trying to be the best I can be. And while it's good to strive towards being like Him, I also need to realize that I cannot BE Him and that He loves me just the way I am. :)

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  3. Love this post Kiki! Awesome reminder that even in our imperfection we are made perfect in His image. I sometimes find myself allow the world to define me and that's the time when I feel the most inadequate and overwhelmed - but when I see myself in His eyes I find immense rest, grace and love. You are beautiful to Him inside and out scars and all.

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    1. Oh girl, I know exactly what you mean. All too often I let the world define me, too. And that is definitely overwhelming and saddening! But like you said, sometimes all it takes is a change in perspective and turning our eyes to Him instead of the world. :)

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  4. This amazes me every time I think about it...that we were created in God's own image. It just amazes me. It amazes me because since everyone is created in God's image, we can learn something about God from every person. We are not ordinary human beings. We are extraordinary--God, the creator of the universe made us in HIS image. Not anything else. Just purely amazes me. And I think you said it perfectly when you said: "We're born to be like Him and we are created perfectly, but we're not perfect people."

    Love this, girl!

    xo, gina

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    1. It is definitely amazing--and hard for me to fully understand sometimes, too! And what you said is so very, very wise. "since everyone is created in God's image, we can learn something about God from EVERY person." Wow, that is something not only for me to think about but to be grateful for! I love being able to see God through everything. :)

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  5. Oh my goodness, I love this post theme! I have received such peace from understanding more fully what it means to be made in the image of God. What an uplifting truth that we have worth and dignity, not from anything we've done, but because we are made to reflect a small picture of His character. What an honor and blessing. I don't have to gain my worth from my own doing, it is in HIM. Ahh, it makes me feel 10lb lighter from worries that hang on like heavy baggage!

    I am excited to work on this link-up !

    Elena

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    1. Beautifully said! I especially loved when you wrote that we are made to reflect a small picture of His character. It definitely is an honor and blessing! :)

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  6. Wow girl, so insightful! I love how you said we're created perfectly, but aren't perfect people. I've never put that into words before, and you did perfectly! Knowing we aren't supposed to be perfect IS such a relief. All we are supposed to do is be Christ-like and reflect Him, but not be exactly like Christ. I'm just constantly blown away at how God made us so intricately and for such purpose!

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    1. To tell you the truth, I had a really rough time writing this post, but as soon as those words popped into my mind (by God, of course!), I realized just how much I needed to remind myself of this truth--especially as a girl who constantly strives for perfection. :)

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  7. Love this Kiki. We are not made to be perfect--but to use what God has given us to bring him glory. We are fearfully and wonderfully made--he has equipped us with what we need because he has created us in his likeness.

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    1. Amen to what you said! We are made to use what God's given us to bring Him the glory. Bring Him the glory and gratitude for creating us just the way we are. :)

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  8. I think this is such a great reminder that we oftentimes forget. So much of Christianity/Christian leaders focus on the sin part, the flesh part, the falling short part, that we forget that there's so much of God in us... we forget that he is in the fabric of who we are and that we were created that way, from the very beginning. We forget that we're masterpieces, beautiful and lovingly made. That always, at least for me, gets overshadowed by the "flaws." But this is an encouraging reminder that FROM THE BEGINNING, we were made beautiful. Before we were born. And it's also our destiny, who we've been made to be. And that's more of what I personally would like to focus on. :) THANKS KIKI!

    --Erika
    http://www.chimerikal.com

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    1. YES! You're right. There really is a lot of God in each and every one of us and like you said, I forget about that, too. We are masterpieces, we were created with thought, purpose, and with so many intricate details that even we do not know about yet.

      Thank YOU for your comments. I love them and cannot get enough of them.

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  9. This post makes me think of an old hymn. The chorus says, "Oh to be like Him. Oh, to be like Him" I am so grateful to have been made in His image and to know that I don't have to be perfect!

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    1. Yes, you said it! We are beautifully created in His image, but we don't have to be perfect. That is something I continue to struggle with but also take great comfort in.

      And what beautiful lyrics! I'm going to have to go look up that hymn now. :)

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  10. I loved this linkup as well! Susannah is one of my dear blog friends! Nice to meet you! PS I just sent you an email after scrolling through your blog for a while!

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    1. Nice to meet you, too! Susannah is so sweet and this link-up was definitely a great experience. :)

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  11. Absolutely beautiful!! I love this!! As I read your post I kept thinking of the old hymn "Jesus I am resting, resting"- such a beautiful reminder that we are made UNIQUELY in His image and do not need to compare ourselves to anyone! I wrote something along these lines in a post yesterday (if you want to check it out! :)) (http://www.caravansonnet.com/2013/07/trying-to-justify-my-existence-made-to.html ) What a lovely post!
    :) Have a wonderful day!
    :) Rebecca

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    1. Thanks, girl! You're so right, we are indeed made uniquely in His image--so there really is no one else we could compare ourselves to at all! Can't wait to check out that hymn and that post! :)

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© IN ITS TIMEMaira Gall