Created in God’s image - LPNI

Genesis 1: 26, 27 talks of the creation of mankind, humans being created “in our ( God’s) image”.  God is referred to as plural, “our image”.  God is Father, Son, Holy Spirit all in one person.  When I think of us being in his image, I think of the “whole person”, mind, body, spirit (or soul), that comprises each human being.  God, of course, is perfect, sinless, almighty.  Humans should reflect God’s character, of love and caring but are at the same time sinful, vulnerable to diseases of body and mind and are often weak in spirit.

People struggle with various mental and emotional illnesses caused by such things as chemical imbalance, overload of stress, abuse of drugs or alcohol, or brain injuries.  While our minds experience the emotions of daily living, our bodies are right there, also affected by those feelings and thoughts and experiences which then often contribute to physical symptoms.  Our physical bodies are vulnerable and susceptible to many difficulties including short-term illness, injury, chronic diseases, ongoing pain that can affect our “whole being”, even feeling weak in spirit.

But there is hope!  We are created in God’s image!  God is love.  His greatest gift of love to us is grace, given through the life, death and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus. We are loved; we are forgiven.  We belong to him.  Our souls are eternal and will live with God forever!  We know through all things, earthly wars, disasters, personal physical, mental or spiritual struggles, that God loves us and will never forsake us.

Psalm 139:14 states:  I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works, my soul knows  it very well.   Because we are made in God’s image, we can know love.  We can love God and love and serve others as he commands.  Thanks be to God.

Dottie Simon RN Parish Nurse, retired

USA 832-859-0863

dotsimon03@yahoo.com