Created for Glory

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We were created to be glorious

God said, “Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life"...So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them...God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, subdue it; and rule..." (Genesis 1:26-27)

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—

the moon and the stars you have set in place—

what are mortals that you should think of us,
mere humans that you should care for us?

For you made us only a little lower than God,
and you crowned us with glory and honor.

(Psalm 8:3-5)

1.What are some of your favorite ways to express yourself, to shine forth to those around you who you are?
Is it music? Art? Conversations? Science? Writing? Crafts? Technical Work? Athletics?

2.Why do you think you have this innate desire to do this? What is it about you that wants you to create and show your being in these ways of expression?

Look at Genesis 1:26-27.

Here we have God creating us, as an expression of who he is. What are the words that are used to describe this creative process?
What do you suppose these words (image, likeness) mean? What clues do you see in the passage that tells you what this “image and likeness” means?
- –the “us” creating the “them” means that we were creating in the image of the Triune God—to be in loving relationship with God
- –the “them” and the “male and female” means that we were created to have relationship with humans—in loving relationship with others in community
- –the “rule over; fill the earth and subdue it” means that we are created to have a relationship with the creation—in loving care for and creative working of creation and culture

3. In what ways do you see humans image or “reflect God” in these ways?

Look at Psalm 8:3-5

What does this passage say about our created value?

Questions

for Application

1. What does this good news about humanity being created in the “image of God” tell you about your dignity as a human being?

2. What does it tell you about the dignity of the people around you?

3. How does this explain why you seek to be noble and good and loving in your life?

4. Why do you suppose, if this is how we are created, there is so much in human nature that is not noble and good and loving?
--this will be the subject of our next study.