This is a chapter from the book The Character of Creatures: What the Animal Kingdom Teaches Us About God and His Word.
Look Like Jesus – The HumanHumans are different from the animals (1 Corinthians 15:39). But God still created humans for a purpose. We are created in his image. God sees so he gave us eyes. God hears so he gave us ears. God moves so he gave us feet. God works so he gave us hands. God thinks so he gave us brains. God cares so he gave us feelings in the pit of our stomach. God loves so he gave us a desire for community. God speaks so he gave us a mouth and vocal cords.
Man was created at the end of the creation week so we can’t say we had anything to do with God’s creation. Now he is recreating every one of us who trusts in Jesus:
Those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ~ Romans 8:29
Discussion:
1. Jesus asked the Pharisees whose likeness was on a coin; they responded, “Caesar’s.” Jesus told them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21). If we are created in God’s image, how do we give our lives to him? Romans 12:1 tells us to be a living sacrifice. If he died for you, will you live for him?
2. People sometimes ask, “What would Jesus do?” but a better question is “What did Jesus do?” We have the whole Bible telling us who God is and how he has responded; it’s our job now to know what he did and do likewise! If you don’t know what to do, don’t be afraid to ask him (James 1:5)!
3. Everything that happens to a believer is being used by God for good (Romans 8:28). What are some hard things that have happened in your life that God used for good? Christ suffered in our place; our suffering teaches us to look more like him!
You are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read, and your life is under scrutiny every day. What do others learn from you? Do they see an accurate picture of your God? ~ John MacArthur
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