You and I were created in God’s image and likeness, which gives us a position and purpose distinct from the rest of God’s creation. Being made in God’s image means that we are to represent him, and manifest his will, through our lives. Looking at how God creates life, we discover a ‘blueprint’ for how God works in and through us. We have looked at Vision, Creating, and Calling. Today we will continue this mini-series-within-a-series by talking about Blessing & Sending.
[26] Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” [27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. [28] God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” [29] Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. [30] And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. Genesis 1:26-30
God created humanity in His image. He put the man in the Garden to work and take care of it. He commands that they remain “set-apart,” or holy, to God by not eating from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Then God blesses them, telling them to increase and be fruitful, fill the earth and subdue it.
All of God’s blessing and favor on your life is for a purpose. The blessing is not just forGod’s sake, or your sake. The blessing comes with purpose and responsibility: you are blessed to increase, multiply, rule, subdue, and care for this big beautiful zoo! Basically, our job was to bring the whole earth under God’s mission, vision, and purposes. To have a people wholly unto himself, that loved him freely, and worshipped him completely.
The tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil provided a choice for man. Would we choose eat from the tree of life? We know the rest of the story, we wanted it our way, rebelling against God’s Word, doubting his goodness, as we grasped at wisdom, strength, and knowledge our way. The rebellion, sin, death and decay into the world, as God’s stewards handed the keys of their authority over to the enemy.
I tell you all of that, because I need you to understand this: The blessing was not revoked. The calling was not revoked. God’s assignment for humanity has not changed – rule and subdue, bring life, steward well, be fruitful, increase.
You are blessed. You are Equipped. You are Sent.
God blesses us, so that we can bless others.
God rescues and restores our lives through the blood of Jesus. He did not come to do the job that we couldn’t get done. He came to restore the relationship we need to the Father. To deal with the sin that separated us. He also restored our authority, taking back what was lost when we rebelled.
Turning our hearts to God and laying down our rebellion, positions us to be blessed and equipped through the power of the Holy Spirit to “go into all the world,” to proclaim the good news in word and action! The assignment, to represent and manifest God on this earth is possible, and you have everything needed to do your part!
What has God blessed and equipped you to do? I would love to hear!
Thanks for reading,
