Day 17 — In His Image

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

— Genesis 1:27 (BSB)

When you look into a mirror, what do you see? Your reflection. It shows what you look like. It’s not actually you, but it’s an image of you.

On the sixth day of creation, God made people. And He did something He didn’t do for any other creature. He made them “in His own image.”

That doesn’t mean God has a body like ours, or that He looks like us. It means people were made to reflect God, like a mirror. We can think, create, love, make choices and have a relationship with Him. No animal, no star and no mountain can do that. Only people.

And look at the last part: “male and female He created them.” God made both men and women, boys and girls, in His image. Both reflect Him. Both are precious to Him. Neither one is better than the other. God designed them differently, and He called His creation “very good” (Genesis 1:31).

In the New Testament, Paul wrote that in Christ, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Whoever you are, if you belong to Jesus, you have the same place in God’s family as everyone else.

Being made in God’s image means some really important things:

You have great worth. Your value doesn’t come from how you look, how smart you are, how popular you are or what you can do. It comes from being made in God’s image. Nothing can take that away.

Every person has great worth. Every person you meet, of every color, every country, every age and every ability, is made in God’s image. The kid nobody likes. The person with a disability. The elderly neighbor. The baby who hasn’t been born yet. The person who is mean to you. Every single one reflects God.

We should treat everyone with respect. When you make fun of someone, bully them or look down on them, you’re mistreating someone who was made in God’s image. When you’re kind to them, you’re honoring the God they reflect.

Sin has cracked the mirror. We don’t reflect God perfectly anymore. But Jesus came to restore us, and as we follow Him, we become more and more like Him.

Think about it: How would you treat people differently if you remembered every single person is made in God’s image?

Try this: Today, as you look at each person you meet, silently think, “You are made in God’s image.” Let it change how you treat them.

Dear God, thank You for making me in Your image. Thank You that both male and female are made in Your image, and that every person has great worth to You. Help me treat everyone with respect and love, because they reflect You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.