Genesis 1:26

What is the meaning of man?

The answer is on page one of the Bible. It says “and God created man in His own image.” Now, what does it mean to be in the image of God? It doesn’t mean physical appearance, but it does mean in God’s likeness.

We can think like God. We can reason. We are creative.

We are to rule over creation. We need to care for it, protect it, and use it in a way that is pleasing to God.

We are spiritual beings. Unlike the animals, we can worship God. God desires a personal relationship with us.

We are moral beings. Man deals with right and wrong. The best way for us to do this is to obey God’s Word in faith.

If we submit to God, we reflect His nature. But when we don’t, we look more like a beast. Understanding this, does your life reflect the image of God or are you more like an animal?

Philippians 1:6

Most everyone is interested in discovering his purpose for living—the reason for being born and the reason for existing.

Well, I have good news. God has put that desire within you, for as your Creator He has a purpose and plan for your life. Your role is to discover it and use the gifts and the talents and opportunities that God has given you to make the most of your life. God’s ultimate purpose is that everyone would have a personal relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. And everyone can—through faith.

Then there is more good news. God’s word says, “I am confident…that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion until the day of Jesus’ coming.”

What a promise! Once we put our life and trust in God, He then promises us He’ll begin to reveal our life purpose to us. He’ll also provide the power needed to see that we get it done. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to discover your reason for living and live it out.

Matthew 6:19-20

Savings and investments seem to be on everybody’s mind. There are news channels that all day long focus solely on the market all day long. There are newspapers, magazines, and newsletters that deal almost exclusively with money and investments.

But what is the right starting point on investing? God’s word tells us that our starting point should be eternity. If all of our focus is on earthly investing, we are mighty shortsighted. Eternity is a lot longer than anything in this life.

Jesus tells us that when we invest in eternal treasure we never lose it. It has returns that last forever. We should begin with investments in eternity even before we focus on investments for college, retirement, or for whatever else we’re investing. To do this takes faith. But it proves to God where our hearts are, whether it’s with Him or our money.

Many men, who see themselves as strong, are absolutely gutless in this area. It takes a strong man to have this kind of faith. Wisdom in investing truly begins with the long-term view of eternity.

Matthew 5:43,44

The word “enemy” has been defined as anyone who is not for us. In light of that definition, we can all think of folks we work with, cross paths with, and sometimes even live with, who are not for us. Yet, Jesus Christ said, “Love your enemies.” To love our friends is not unique, but to love our enemies is.

At the end of the Civil War, many Northerners were demanding that the South be punished for the devastation the war had caused the United States. Feeling he was too soft on the South, a group visited President Lincoln at the White House. One man became so intense that he pounded on Mr. Lincoln’s desk and he said, “Mr. President, I believe in destroying my enemies.”

President Lincoln reflected a moment, then slowly stood and said this, “Do we not destroy our enemies when we make them our friends?”

That is the spirit of Christianity that literally changes the world. The key question is—is it you?

Ecclesiastes 7:8

To have patience with other people is one of life’s greatest qualities.

In Lincoln, The War Years, Sandberg writes of Lincoln’s patience with his cabinet in the most difficult days of American history. Many in his cabinet felt they were a whole lot smarter than the President. They made a point of letting other people know it, too. Some mocked and belittled him, and one even call him a dumb gorilla. These words often got back to President Lincoln and his wife. She despised them. Yet, he was incredibly patient with them. And when he died, these same men realized that they had served under one of the greatest men who ever lived.

Patience with others is a Christ-like quality. Ask God for patience but watch out if you do! God just might put some difficult people around you to try your patience. This is a part of learning patience and an answer to your prayer.

Genesis 1:1

How do you think that life came about?  Where did it all begin?  How was it all put in motion?

Some believe life evolved by chance; others believe that all of creation has come from God. The fact is, both philosophies take a great deal of faith.

Imagine this: One of our soldiers in the Middle East sets off a landmine and out of the explosion comes a perfectly built 747, ready to fly him home to America. Would you believe that story if somebody told it to you? It would take a great deal of faith. And yet, it takes that much faith and more to believe that all of life evolved by chance for all life is more complex than a 747.

Look around you—the birth of a baby, the predictable seasons, the roar of the sea. Do you have enough faith to believe it happened by chance?

The fact is, I don’t. I’m going to put my bet on God, that He put it all in motion.

Romans 13:14

The 1960’s ushered in the sexual revolution. They called it the “new” morality, but it wasn’t new; it was very old. The Greeks and Romans embraced it thousands of years ago and, soon afterwards, they were history. It was introduced thousands of years before that in the days of Noah. At that time, God got so disgusted with the filth that He gave the earth a good bath.

So how is the sexual revolution progressing in the 21^st century?

The latter part of the 20^th century ushered in an epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases, some of them like AIDS are deadly. The sexual fears began to multiply. So to save the revolution, the idea of safe sex was introduced, but it wasn’t safe—it was just as deadly. So much for utopian dreams!

When you think about it, the sexual revolution has been a disaster. Countless lives have been lost and countless others are disillusioned with the emptiness. That’s why God gave a warning when He invented sex. It’s great, but only as an expression of love between a man and woman in marriage. That’s revolutionary! The ultimate safe sex.

Genesis 50:20

One of the great stories of the Bible deals with the life of Joseph, the son of Jacob. He was loved by his father and resented by his 10 older brothers. They sold him into slavery and told their father he had been killed and devoured by a wild animal.

What is so amazing about Joseph is he never gave up and never quit trusting in God, even though he faced setback after setback. He was falsely accused and unjustly thrown into prison. Miraculously, one day Joseph was called to interpret the Pharaoh of Egypt’s dreams. And, in so doing, was appointed Prime Minister of Egypt to save the people from famine.

Amazingly, because he saved the people from famine, his own brothers who had betrayed him were saved as well. When they realized the Prime Minister of Egypt was the brother they had betrayed years earlier, they were afraid. Yet Joseph forgave them and said, “What you meant for evil, God meant for good.”

What faith—what forgiveness—what an example for all of us.

1 Timothy 1:8-9

One of the leaders of the Georgia General Assembly, in opposition to House Ethics legislation, was quoted as saying, “You can’t legislate morality.”

Have you ever used that argument, “Can’t legislate morality?”

I ask you, why do those guys meet? To make laws! Has there ever been a law written that wasn’t legislating morality? They all do. Yea, I know what they mean; laws don’t guarantee proper behavior. Any law can be broken, but laws sure do make people think twice before breaking them.

Laws of the state are part of God’s plan to protect man from himself and from others. So, next time someone says you can’t legislate morality, just suggest they do away with laws on rape, murder, robbery.

Sure, laws don’t change a person’s heart, only Jesus Christ can do that, but they sure do help us protect ourselves from our fellow man and our fellow man from us.

Romans 5:8

Love.

How often we use the word. We love warm weather. We love our husband or wife. We love our college football team. We love the latest fashion trend. We speak the word in our most tender moments and then use it to describe our feelings about a flavor of ice cream.

Do you know that you are loved? Really loved?

The God who created all of life loves you even if you don’t love Him in return. He doesn’t wait for you to demonstrate your love for Him. He loves you first. He clearly demonstrates His love through Jesus Christ, especially when Christ gave His life for us.

Over the next few days, try to notice how many times the word “love” is used in casual conversation. Each time you hear it, think about the love of God—real love. Think of  how much He loves you and begin to experience His love. When you begin to know His love, you’ll be amazed at the joy in your own life.