A Mirror

John Povey October 11, 2026 0 0

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Genesis 1: 26-31 (NIV-UK)

26 Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’

27 

So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’

29 Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground – everything that has the breath of life in it – I give every green plant for food.’ And it was so.

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the sixth day.

Today, as we come to the Bible, we discover the radical truth that all humans bear the divine image. We are created to mirror God’s character. Like a polished glass, we do not generate the light ourselves; we carry and bounce back God’s love and goodness, His creativity and glory, into the world.

This points us forward to Christ. Jesus is described in the New Testament as “the image of the invisible God”. Where humanity has fractured, distorted, and marred the image of God through sin, Christ restores it. In Him, the image of God is seen perfectly and without flaw.  By His Spirit, He heals our hearts so we can reflect to others true love and dignity.

This has profound implications for how we view ourselves and other people. If every human being bears the image of God, then every human life possesses inherent worth.  Value is not rooted in productivity, intelligence, physical ability, age, gender, or social status. From the unborn child to the elderly, from the strong to the weak, from the poor to the rich, from the tall to the short, from the believer to the unbeliever, all bear the image of God and therefore deserve honour and respect.

To honour the image of God in humanity is to honour God Himself. So the very next person you see — no matter who it is — tell yourself, “they are made in the image of God; just like me”. Do it! Say it to yourself. You will treat them, and yourself, very differently.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for creating me in Your image. Thank You that my life is not an accident, but a reflection of Your handiwork. Help me to see myself through Your eyes - worthy of love, value, and belonging. Teach me to look at every person I meet today with that same respect, recognising Your reflection in those around me. Renew my mind and my thoughts, and help me to walk in the confidence of who You made me to be. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.