²⁶ Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

I have found myself reflecting a lot lately. Reflecting on where I am in life and where I used to be. Reflecting on ways I have noticed change and ways I feel I may be in need of change. This practice of reflection can be helpful, it can promote growth.

It can also lead to pride. When each sentence starts with ”I” that signals a shift in focus. If you go back to the previous paragraph, count how many times you see the letter…yikes! Self reflection, is helpful, but too much reflection on self can lead to puffery.

My hope is to shift focus, and practice reflection that shows how i reflect the Father. Genesis 1:26 is where God details His making of humans. Verses 1-25 show God speaking and creating, often referred to as “the creation story”. Verse 26 God has decided to make man and to make man in His image and in His likeness. It goes on to show all the ways God gave us dominion but i want pause at His decision to make man. Let’s rest here for a bit.

Galatians 5:22-26 NKJV says this,

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

If we have confessed with our mouths and have believed in our hearts that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, then we are saved (Romans 10:9) the fruit of the spirit should be evident in us. We look like the Father. He is all of the fruit listed here in Galatians 5. Can we see that? Do we see Christ when we look at your lives?

I would like to encourage us to reflect on the fruit laid out here, evidence of the Spirit of God on the inside of us. Which of these are present? Which of these are we in need of? It would also prove important to allow the Holy Spirit to check our hearts in full, what fruit may we still have in us that is of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21)? What do we need to lay down and surrender?

imago Dei is Latin, meaning “image of God”. Genesis 1:26 tells us we are the imago Dei. Not the animals, not the beauty we find in nature, but you and I. My prayer is that our lives would be a reflection of this very truth.