Imago Dei Every Day

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

   Mark Twain is credited with the quote, "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." I’ve been thinking a lot about the latter as one year closes and another begins. I’m one of those guys who often writes out New Year’s Resolutions, as a fun (and nagging) way of goal setting. This year’s resolution may be the most paradoxical and lofty resolution yet.  This year I resolve to be Imago Dei every day.  

  If you’re not familiar with this Latin expression, it literally means “Image of God.” Some of you may already be focusing on the obvious half of the paradox, thinking, “Well, that’s one resolution you can’t break, because God’s Word tells us, we’re made in His image.  In verses twenty-six and twenty-seven of Genesis, chapter one, we read, “Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness,” and “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." 

   My resolution is more than being the physical creation that my Creator crafted. My objective is to live my life in a way that honors the gift of breath that my Lord put in me…”Every day!” To be perfect, Jesus admonished, “as your father is perfect (Matthew 5:47).”  A command, I interpret, that is more about striving than perfecting. 

Perhaps I’ll begin the New Year by picking the low hanging fruit my Lord has provided. The love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that draws me nearer to Him, and makes me closer to His image (Galatian 5:22-23). 

   Perhaps, this year I’ll be more obedient to His Word and meditate on those things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. Perhaps by doing that, I’ll finally obtain that peace of God, that surpasses all understanding and guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-8). 

  Like pretty much all my New Year’s resolutions, no doubt I’ll break this one. I’ll fall, fail stumble, loose my cool and patience. The difference this year I pray, is I’ll continue to come back, again and again to the promises of my Lord. My Lord who made me in His image, Imago Dei, every day. 

Arnold ‘Win’ Davis

Executive Director of Missions