Your Image of God Is Showing

​On a drizzly, autumn evening, I embarked on a short walk after work.  The fresh air and exercise were exactly what I needed for a little pick-me-up.  Toward the end of the walk, I noticed an older gentleman who ambled at a leisurely pace about four houses ahead of me.  Most of the time, I tune out the rest of the world and listen to music during walks, but something drew me to pay a little more attention this time.

He took his time and seemed to take great joy in his surroundings.  At one point, he stopped right in the middle of the path and began to look around.  Most often, people (including myself) tend to rush through life.  Rarely do we notice the beauty around us: colorful leaves blowing in the wind, the sun lighting up the sidewalk, or the changing colors on the trees.  This man, on the other hand, didn’t allow himself to miss a single thing.

When I caught up and began to pass him, I turned around to acknowledge his presence and say hello.  The corners of his mouth crept up to his eyes and lines which marked years of joy deepened in his face.  The man’s eyes sparkled as he greeted me in the most gentle way.  But most of all, it was his smile that caught my attention.

Have you ever seen a smile that just catches you off guard?  It’s as if the kindness of that person so brightly shines through and penetrates your very soul.  When I saw this man and took notice of his gentle curiosity, I felt like I saw a small part of God.  It was as if this man’s “image of God was showing.”

We all have the image of God within us.  This truth is difficult to remember when that guy cuts you off in traffic or when that girl talks about you behind your back.  How could God’s image possibly live in the people we dislike?  We live in a broken world and sin hides the image of God within us.

By His grace, we were made in His image and meant to show the world the little part of God within each and every one of us.  Different people have different strengths, gifts, and unique qualities. 

My friend Lian knows how to laugh and not take things too seriously.  Her light heart and sense of humor remind me to focus on the good in this world.

My friend Abby is always up for an adventure.  Her spontaneity and engagement in life inspire me to enter the world seeking new adventures.

My friend Mady is always there for me.  Her words of encouragement never cease to lift me up.

My friend Taryn has the most calming presence.  Being around her is like a breath of fresh air.

My friend Alexa knows how to get me laughing until tears roll down my face.  She reminds me that life truly is better when you’re laughing.

My brother Josh knows me better than anyone. It’s almost like he can read my mind before I even say anything (kind of scary, but also pretty amazing).  He has shown me what it means to be truly known by someone who loves you.

I believe these are all parts of God reflected in my loved ones.  

God has so many incredible qualities, and there’s enough to go around!  He puts pieces of His grace, kindness, patience, gentleness, and strength into each and every one of us, for each person is meant to reflect a small part of His character.  

Have you ever met someone who embodies a virtue to the tee?  Is it possible that it is not a random good quality, but the God of the universe reflected in that person?

It’s like we’re each a small piece of a seven-billion-piece puzzle that is meant to reflect God’s goodness and bring Him glory.  

One puzzle piece says “grace.”

Another says “patience.”

Another says “courage.”
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All together, we make up a picture of the Almighty God.

This idea bears an eerie resemblance to Romans 12:3-8 in which Paul tells readers about the body of Christ.

4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.

This thinking helps me keep things in perspective when I meet a difficult person.  That person represents one part of the body of Christ or one piece of God’s grand puzzle.  It encourages me to dig a little deeper, look past their flaws, and try to find that “little piece of God” within them.

When I come to realize this, the immediate response is to give more love and grace to those around me, for they are unique image-bearers whom God has placed a small piece of Himself within.

We’re all part of the same team, all part of the same body of image-bearers.  How would our lives change if we started to view our neighbors in this way?

Questions for Reflection

1. How do you see God reflected in your loved ones?  What traits do they embody?
2. What do you think is on your puzzle piece?  How does it reflect God?
3. How does viewing others as a piece of God’s puzzle change your perspective?  How might this viewpoint play a role in situations in which we find ourselves annoyed by others?

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Photocred: Unsplash