We have been created in the image of God:
26Then 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.” 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-17
What does it mean to be created in God’s image or likeness? It means we were created to be creative. God made us like Him, with words of power to bring life, authority, and blessing. Most importantly, God made us for an intimate, loving relationship with Him.
However, there is a verse that I have not been able to shake this week:
They rejected [God’s] decrees and the covenant he had made with their fathers and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, “Do not do as they do,” and they did the things the LORD had forbidden them to do. 2 Kings 17:15
The word ‘worthless’ could also be translated from the original language to vanity or vain or a vapor or breath. God wants to establish a people who will worship Him. He is jealous for our love, and jealous when we give it away carelessly to created things. When we worship that which is a vapor and a breath, we also become so.
VAIN: producing no results; useless; having no meaning or likelihood of fulfillment
Worshipping things that have no substance or power, we also become without substance or
power. Worshipping the God of substance establishes us in Him, and we become as He is: victorious, prosperous, flourishing and thriving in all we do.
Well, what does it mean to ‘follow worthless idols’? One idol God has been showing me is the idol of the fear of man. Do you value the opinions and thoughts that people have about you? Do you always have in mind what others will think or say about you as you go about your day? Have you ever thought about this as worship?
Seeking acceptance, love, and approval from people will reduce your life to the image of man.
Our real substance and power is lost when we worship something other than God.
Living to seek and serve God will increase our capacity, enlarging our lives to the creative, powerful, passionate life God created you to live in the image of God.
The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that. Proverbs 29:25 – MSG
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. Proverbs 29:25 – NIV
There will always be critics. Be confident that God is not one of them! God can set you free from the fear of man as you draw near to Him and establish yourself in His perfect love.
