In God’s Image
We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
Grab your phone. Go to your photos folder and check the number of pics you have taken. How many did you find? My wife and I are on iCloud, so we share photos. Between us, we have almost 39,500 pictures! Needless to say, we love taking photos! A photo is an image, a snapshot of people and places in time. It captures a memory. We can remember people, events, and situations through pictures. Photography has come a long way since the camera with film had to be sent off to be developed and printed! Who knew then that we would someday have a camera we carry everywhere in our pockets?
I led a team of camp staffers on a mission trip to Poland 15 years ago to host a family camp for a group of Roma families. The Romani people, or Roma, number 15 million. They have no homeland and are seen as wanderers and often referred to as gypsies. We flew to Krakow and then traveled by bus to a remote village in the middle of the Polish countryside. We spent a week with these families, sharing Jesus and fellowshipping together. One of the crafts we planned to make with this group was a homemade picture frame. I ordered a small, handheld printer to take with me so that I could take pictures of the people and print them so they could put them in the frames that they had made. Surprisingly, these folks had never seen themselves in a picture or a mirror. Hard to imagine, isn’t it? Perhaps they had seen their reflection in a window or water, but they were so excited to see and hold an actual image of themselves.
Read Colossians 1:15-20. These verses paint a perfect picture of Jesus. He is the image of the invisible God, not just a representative of God. He is the manifestation of God Himself. Through Jesus, we see God's character, nature, and heart for humanity. These verses point to the supremacy of Christ, recognizing His unmatched worth and giving Him the glory, honor, and obedience He deserves.
As humans, we are uniquely created in God's image. As believers in Christ, we are called to reflect Christ’s image to the world. We are called to bear this image as Christ did on earth, to live as a new creation, set apart as a reflection of the God who created us and loves us.
As we embrace our identity as those created in Christ’s image, we understand that it is not about striving to be perfect but about surrendering to His transforming work. When we look at Jesus, we see what God looks like; when the world looks at us, they should see Jesus reflected in us.
We must embrace Christ’s supremacy in every area of our lives. He is enough. He is our hope. In Him, all things find their purpose, meaning, and fulfillment. We must strive to live in a way worthy of our calling as believers who reflect Christ. To reach a lost and dying world without Jesus, they must see Him in us, how we live our lives, and how we treat and love people.
Call to Action
Think about one area of your life where you must fully recognize Christ's supremacy.
What steps can you take this next week to be a visible image of the invisible God, like Jesus, to those with whom you come in contact?
Share a ‘Christ in Me Testimony’ (one way you have experienced Christ in your life) with a co-worker, family member, neighbor, or friend.
Take a nature walk, reflecting on Colossians 1:16-17 and Christ’s authority over creation and your life.
Dig Deeper
Read these additional verses of Scripture: Hebrews 1:3, Romans 11:36, Philippians 2:9-10, Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, John 14:9.
Prayer
A different and unique way to pray is to pray Scripture. Take a moment to pray verses 9-14 of Colossians 1, where Paul prays for spiritual growth, wisdom, and understanding. This may be uncomfortable if you have never done it, but it can be meaningful.
Copyright © 2025 Kyle Cravens
