In our Equipping God's People series which runs on the last Sunday night of every month, I tackled the issue of self-image.
People found it helpful, but wanted more and it was suggested that I put some of it into the EmmDevs.
Let see how it goes...
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For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. Psalms139:13-14
We live in a "Reality bytes vs bites" tension. There is brokenness in our world, but also a Sovereign God who works out His plans alongside, in-spite-of and through our free-will and the brokenness that we find ourselves in. Very often we start with a statement of the the problem _before_ we start at the very beginning.
The very beginning is that we are carefully and purposefully created by God. He knitted the double-helix of our DNA so that we could become the unique people that we are. Furthermore, in Acts 17:26 Paul explains that "...He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live."
THEREFORE in our creation, timing and placement we are not accidental or incidental - We are fearfully and wonderfully made!
There are three things about our creation that are vitally important to remember:
1. We are created in the image of God: We are capable and designed for relationship with him. After Paul explained how God put everyone in his determined place and time, he said this: "God did this so that we would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." (Acts17:27)
2. Being in His image, we are able to love and be loved, for God is love. (1Jn4:8)
3. We have a life of purpose ahead of us. The psalmist says that the days ordained for us are written in His book (Ps.139:16) and Paul says that there is a life of good works prepared in advance for us to do (Eph2:10) Our lives have value as we are purposed to live out meaningful lives that glorify our Creator.
The bumper sticker summary goes: "I know I must be special, 'cos God made me and He don't make no junk!"
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
