Made in His Image: Reflecting God's Multi-Faceted Love
“There are no ordinary people. You have never met a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations, they are to our life as the life of a gnat.”
Have you ever pondered the fact that God has never created another person exactly like you? Even if you are an identical twin, you still have your own unique personality and gifting. There is only one you, and I’ve come to believe there is a profound spiritual reason for that.
I remember hearing Lisa Bevere say that God doesn’t love us all equally. Those of us in the audience looked around uncomfortably…What? That can’t be right. But she went on to explain that if we believe God loves us equally, it implies his love can be measured. Rather, we should say that God loves us all uniquely as his love is beyond measure.
I love this way of thinking about God’s love. If it can’t be measured, there’s no reason strive to earn his love, nor is there a reason to compare ourselves to others. God is not standing by with a measuring rod pointing out our failures. Love doesn’t do that.
As I reflected on the nature of his love, it occurred to me that our very identity as human beings generally, but also as unique individuals, is inextricably tied to the transformational power of that love. Moment by moment, day by day, he is transforming us into his own likeness. And yet, no two of us are alike, so what does that mean? How can we all be unique while simultaneously reflecting his image?
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Cor. 3:18, NKJV)
The key to understanding this is to recognize that our idea of God is too small. No matter how great or majestic or expansive you believe God to be, your conception of him will always fall short of the truth. Our human minds cannot grasp his true magnitude.
Although no analogy is sufficient, I like to think of God as a gemstone with infinite facets—each facet reflected by a single human of his creation. Thus, each individual reflects a different aspect of his nature and beauty. So without you, or without me, the reflection of God’s image is incomplete. This makes you infinitely valuable.
Stop and think about that for a moment. Without you, God’s image on earth is incomplete. Do you believe that?
Sadly, I think most of us spend years doubting our intrinsic worth, questioning if we have anything of real value to contribute in this life. We try to fit ourselves into any number of worldly patterns or roles, but we don’t feel like we truly belong. The simple reason is that we weren’t made to fit perfectly into the patterns of this world—we were made for something greater.
If we recognize it for what it is, the discomfort of this world can lead us straight into the arms of the Comforter, whose love has the power to reshape our identity, enabling us to more perfectly reflect his glory.
When this happens, there is a magnifying effect. The love that we reflect enables those around us to perceive their own intrinsic worth as well. Love always results in multiplication.
Here’s the truth: you are uniquely called to magnify his love to those around you!
If you’re struggling to see yourself as a beloved child of God, pray with me…
Father, I thank you that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)
I thank you that I am fully known and fully loved by you.
I thank you that you are already at work in my life, transforming me into your likeness.
Help me to see myself as you see me.
Help me to experience more of your perfect love, that I may walk in my true identity as your precious child.
Heal my heart so that I may be a vessel for your love.
Allow me to discover and embrace the unique way that I was created to bear your image.
Help me to reflect your glory to the world around me as I seek to love those you place in my life.
May I see the fruit of the multiplication of love in my family, my church, my workplace, and my community.
May my life be defined by the greatness of your love.
Amen
‘Sometimes healing comes by waving the white flag of surrender when everyone else is telling you to stay in the fight.’
