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Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness…Genesis 1:26

God is our example in everything because we were created to be His image-bearers, to reflect His image, to Him and to the World. So from the beginning, we are designed to glorify God, to mirror Him.  He is to be our role model – not just because He is perfect and holy and marvelous, but also because it is our purpose, that we would be like Him.

As I mentioned in a post before the holiday week, it is sometimes hard to imagine that we, who are so imperfect, can ever reflect His image accurately; but it is what He has made us for, and so He has made a way for us.  The sacrifice of Jesus makes a way for us to be in relationship with the Father.  Believing that Christ died for our sins and that, because of Him we are forgiven, invites the Holy Spirit into our hearts so that we may commune with Jehovah God, worshipping Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:22-24).  Worship is to declare worth, or worthiness.  Again, nothing declares worth more than imitation.  So, when we model our lives after the LORD, we worship Him, declaring Him worthy of our imitation and acknowledging that His way is better than our own.

And what is His way?  He accomplishes everything by the power of His Word.  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:1-3).  From the beginning of creation, God’s Word has had Authority.  God speaks and it is accomplished.  Creation is forever hearing His Word and responding by doing it.  And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Genesis 1:3).  Immediate obedience!  No question.

In the same way, the foundation of a godly life, for us and for our families, is built on hearing and doing the Word.  Hearing and Doing is God’s plan for all of creation because His Word has power.  So shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:11).  So we can see that Hearing and Doing is a spiritual principle that has predictable consequences; like gravity, it is part of His design for the Universe.

The LORD built all that we see by the power of His Word.  As His Word is the foundation of our world, so it must be the foundation of our lives.  Earlier, we read that we were created in the image of the Triune God, by the power of His Word.  And the Word continues to be the authority by which we are conformed to the image of God.

In a recent post, I confessed that my mouth has a way of getting me into trouble sometimes because I tend to say just what I am thinking…and that is not always a good thing.  But I belong to the Holy God and I am created to reflect His image to others.  He used His Words to accomplish good – so I must do the same.  If His Word is in my mind and in my mouth, I can imitate Him and reflect His nature, instead of my own.  It is really this simple:

How can a young man keep his way pure?
    By guarding it according to Your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
    let me not wander from Your commandments!
I have stored up Your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against You.
Blessed are You, O Lord;
    teach me Your statutes!
With my lips I declare
    all the rules of Your mouth.
In the way of Your testimonies I delight
    as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on Your precepts
    and fix my eyes on Your ways.
I will delight in Your statutes;
    I will not forget Your word (Psalm 119:9-16).

First I must commit to hearing His word; I must study it and memorize it and dwell on it in my thoughts.  But just as importantly, I must move forward by doing His word; I must obey His commands and follow His leadership.  So here is the application of  His Word to my life: rather than speaking my own mind, I must allow His Word to inform my thinking, so I may respond by speaking it to others.  Does this work for me every time?  Sadly, no, just ask my poor husband!  But any gain, any positive change in me is because the Word is being woven into my heart, daily.  The Word is a part of me now and the Holy Spirit is wielding it like a sword; He is working to carve out and discard the old ways and make room for newer, better ways…His ways.  So be it – Amen.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
    be acceptable in Your sight,
    O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:4).

justAgirl…just like you