The next focus piece that I want us to reflect on this week is image. If you could pause for a moment, how would you define your image? Maybe it’s what you reflect, what you stand for? Maybe it’s what takes up your time or attention? We can be moms and dads, we can be spouses that’s what we are related to. Our image can be what we do? We can be technicians, craftsmen, teachers, accountants, administrators. Our image can be around our hobbies or activities or even the sports teams we cheer for.

But is there depth to that image? Is that what gives us meaning? How often does that let us down?

You know where I am going, especially if you heard the message a few weeks ago, we are created in the image of God. Our identity, purpose, what we relate to is God. He defines
who we are and he says, we are his children. We are his sons and daughters. Our image is one from the Creator and even as we saw in Isaiah, he loves us and is tender with us, like sheep of his flock.

Think about that for a second. The one who spoke the galaxies into being whispers to you. The one who can take the oceans in his hand, takes YOU by the hand and calls you his friend.

That’s why for me, all of this culminates in how God interacts with Jesus at his baptism, that image defining moment.

Matthew 3:16-17- 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

What do you see? What do you notice? What gets your attention? (Love, acceptance and purpose). Yes, that is with Jesus, but that is for you and me. If we fast forward to John 17, it is Jesus’ prayer for you and me, verse 26 says, “I have made you known to them and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Which means, our image, created in God’s image, is also the love that God has for Jesus is in us. Jesus’ identity and purpose and acceptance is in us, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Do you see your image in the same way? Or do you doubt who God says you are?
What I find fascinating is that after Jesus was baptized, he went into the desert where he was tempted. Satan gave Jesus three temptations, but you know what each temptation started with? You can look at Matthew 4 … each temptation started with two letters that led to a statement about his image, his identity. If … If you are the son of God.

How often, in your life do you doubt God, doubt his love, doubt his forgiveness because of those two little words, if … if you wouldn’t have done that, if you would have done this, if you were better, if you weren’t so bad, if.

I want you to sit with the image God says you are, “Loved and accepted, created with a purpose.” Do you see that? Do you hear that? Or do you hear, if? Do you hear how your past, the lies, the agreements, your sin is trying to tell you something other than what God says?

I encourage you to write down who God says you are and maybe on the other side of the paper, who do you think you are or who you’ve been told and sit with God around what is
similar and what is in contrast. Today, how can you receive and hold onto God’s image for you versus the world, or past or others have labeled you.

You can also sit with this song as an encouragement- Who You Say I Am