“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
Genesis 1:27 KJV
According the the Bible, God created mankind in His image. So, then, does that mean that we act like God or think like God or look like God or talk like God? Not according to His Word, but as His children, we are to strive to do all those things.
In I Peter 1:16, God’s Word says, “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
And Psalm 145:17 says, “The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.”
The Lord God is holy. And according to God’s Word, the Lord Jesus is God (John 1:1). So how does your lifestyle compare with that of Christ’s?
- Jesus’ thoughts are always perfect. Our thoughts are usually tainted by sin, being lustful, bitter, selfish, greedy, etc.
- Jesus’ actions are always right. Our actions are usually motivated by sinful and self-serving thoughts.
- Jesus’ motives are always pure. Our motives are usually driven by selfish and lustful desires.
As we grow spiritually and draw closer and closer to God, we start to think and act more like Jesus. That’s why Paul said in Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” God wants us to think and act like Christ, with pure motives in all we do. If we don’t, then we cannot begin to understand the ways of God. However, if we strive to draw close to Christ in every area of life, we might learn to accept His ways, even though we may never understand them.
Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
In comparison, think of the restrictions that a mother might put on her young child. A four-year-old doesn’t comprehend danger like a mature adult. Try to explain to a small girl why she can’t ride her tricycle in the street like her teenage sister rides her bicycle in the street. She may accept Mom’s rule and obey it, but she doesn’t understand why she’s restricted and her big sister has freedom.
The same is true with our relationship with God. We don’t always understand why we endure the tragedies of life, but the fact remains, God’s actions are always right and His motives are always pure, and although we may not understand what we’re going through or why, we can trust Him to always do what’s best for us, like a caring mother who nurtures her child. The difference is, mothers are human and make mistakes. God makes no mistakes.