Made in His image
“So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.” (Genesis 1: 27 HCSB)
When God created man and woman, He created us in His image. That’s why we were meant to rule over all the animals and creatures. There are gifts and talents that God gave us that make us unique in a world filled with His creativity. The birth of my daughter, who was my firstborn, really showed me just how amazing God is. The way childbirth works is so unique and creative. Little things, like how hiccups are signs of a fetus’ lungs growing and getting ready to breath on their own, show how well we are designed. But those signs continue even after birth. Our ability to not only learn how to communicate to each other, but in such a poetic, descriptive manner, in so special and shows how we are set apart from the rest of creation. It points to a brain and design that was made for so much more than just daily survival.
Q: What part of your life do you feel reflects God’s image the best?
“I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well.” (Psalms 139: 14 HSCB)
God designed mankind for amazing things. We are strong enough to build and create with our hands. We are smart enough to design robotics and make medical advances. We are creative enough to constantly challenge ourselves and find new, inventive ways to live life. Monkeys pick fruit off trees and lions attack prey and eat. But mankind adds spices and seasoning, making culinary masterpieces that make me drool just in thinking about it. In so many ways, we were created to be superior. At the heart of all of it, we were made to use those special gifts and talents to bring Glory back to Him, who made us that way. Instead, we often times use these talents to bring us attention, as if we did it all on our own power.
We are made incomplete
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 HSCB)
Though we were made in God’s image, we were not made to be complete on our own. We all have weaknesses and flaws. Even if we are talented in one area, we are weak in another. While someone may have been a 4.0 student and graduated with honors in economics, they might not be able to change your alternator when it goes out. Some of the most brilliant minds of our time were masters of their field, but emotionally fragile. While we were designed for amazing things, we are not complete without Christ. But, that’s not a knock on who we are. In fact, it’s exactly as we are made. That way, we never forget that creation was not made possible without the Creator. God didn’t create us to just drop us off and move on to a new project. God created us for a relationship with Him. He shows us His love in this way.
Use your talents for His good
“Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.” (1 Peter 4: 10 HCSB)
Q: What is something you consider to be a talent of yours? How do you use this talent?
Use your talents to bring God glory. God creates us to have a purpose in life, and to use your talents towards this purpose. Those with the ability to write can use that ability to write about God in creative ways. More and more, you see athletes use their podium to talk about God and how He is active in their lives. Music and dance are great forms of worship. If you are good at building relationships, then you can use that ability to invite people to church. If you’re good with kids, you can use that ability in a children’s ministry and serve on Sundays. I was a deacon in a church once that used a talent evaluation to help people find the best place for them to serve within the church. So, no matter what your talents are, you can do something to help bring glory to God.
Use your talents to serve others. Yes, Sunday is a great way to do this. When you serve in children’s ministry, you’re not babysitting. You’re helping to teach God’s words and help the continued planting of seeds. But your talents should go beyond your church building. Our communities locally have needs that can be met. School age children need mentors, which can include coaches. There are people in the city you live in that don’t have a warm place to sleep at night or clothes to keep them dry. Pregnancy centers will often accept donations of blankets and supplies. If you are someone who hires at your workplace, you can help people clean up and improve their resumes. There is always something domestic, within your own community, that you can do to serve others and be that light of Jesus. Internationally, those needs are even bigger. That are plenty of churches that sponsor mission trips. The issue will never be needs. The broken world we live in provides plenty of that. The question is, are you using the talents and skills God gave you to help answer those needs. While God creates us incomplete without Him, he also created us to show love to others in the same way He loves us. By that, we show our appreciation and gratefulness for that love.
Q: What do you think your purpose in life is? In what ways do your talents support this?