In God’s Image
Bible in a Year:
2 Chronicles 17–18; John 13:1–20
God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27
When her beautiful brown skin started losing its color, a young woman felt frightened, as if she were disappearing or losing her “self.” With heavy makeup, she covered up “my spots,” as she called them—patches of lighter skin caused by a condition called vitiligo. It’s a loss of skin pigment, melanin, which gives skin its tone.
Then one day, she asked herself: Why hide? Relying on God’s strength to accept herself, she stopped wearing heavy makeup. Soon she began gaining attention for her self-confidence. Eventually she became the first spokesmodel with vitiligo for a global cosmetics brand.
“It’s such a blessing,” she told a TV news host, adding that her faith, family, and friends are the ways she finds encouragement.
This woman’s story invites us to remember that we each are created in God’s image. “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). No matter what we look like on the outside, all of us are image-bearers of God. As His created persons, we reflect His glory; and as believers in Jesus we are being transformed to represent Him in the world.
Do you struggle to love the skin you’re in? Today, look in the mirror and smile for God. He created you in His image.
Reflect & Pray
What’s more important to you—how people see you or if they see God in you? What are ways you can represent His image to others?
Help me accept how You’ve made me, Creator God. Reign in my heart so others can see You in me.
In God’s Image Our Daily Bread Podcast | Our Daily Bread
2. CHARLES R. SWINDOLL- MISTAKES
Insight for Today
A Daily Devotional by Chuck Swindoll
Musing Over Mistakes
Musing Over Mistakes
When it comes to mistakes, we need a great deal of tolerance. And a sense of humor doesn't hurt, either.
I ran across an embarrassing mistake recently in the sports section of the newspaper. A volleyball coach was being featured, and the article went on and on about her background, superb ability, win-loss record, and style of coaching. The next day, tucked away in a much less obvious place, was a one-sentence apology, which said that the coach was, in fact, a man, not a woman. Ouch!
Who hasn't happened upon one every once in a while in a church bulletin? One of my all-time favorites was the announcement letting people know about a "sing-in" following an evening service. Unfortunately, this is the way it appeared: "There will be a sin-in at the Johnson home immediately following the pastor's evening message on 'Intimate Fellowship.'"
There are even a few human-error scenes in Scripture that strike me as nothing short of hilarious.
Among my favorites is the one tucked away in 1 Samuel 15 where King Saul was commanded by Samuel, very clearly, that he should not only destroy the Amalekites, but also every living creature in the region of the Amalekites. He went, he saw, he slew . . . but instead of total annihilation, he captured the king and also spared a lot of the animals.
When Samuel heard of the king's disobedience, the prophet showed up and asked why. Saul lied. "I have carried out the command of the Lord," he said.
Samuel's line is classic: "(You obeyed, huh?) What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?"
Can't you just picture it? All the time old Saul's mouth was moving, there was this strange mixture of animal sounds in the distance. No, his sin wasn't funny . . . but the way he got caught red-handed was. The animals told on him!
So long as there is humanity on this old earth, there will be mistakes and failures. If you can't tolerate those who make them, I'd suggest you stop making them yourself!
General John Sedgwick did. In fact, his last words were spoken while looking over the parapet at the enemy line during the Battle of Spotsylvania in 1864. With great gusto he sneered, "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist—"
Remember, when it comes to mistakes, we need a great deal of tolerance. And a sense of humor doesn't hurt either.
Taken from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. www.thomasnelson.com
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