Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26 ESV

If Jesus perfectly reflects the radiance of God’s glory, it would make sense that, being created in His image, we reflect part of that glory too.

In his book, The Weight of Glory, C. S. Lewis helps us better understand the glory of being made in God’s image:

“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations—these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously—no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption.”

You have never talked to a mere mortal. Just take a moment and think about that statement. Everyone you come in contact with today has been intentionally made by God, in His image. And they will live somewhere for all of eternity.

But how do you glorify God as one of His image bearers other than being made in His image?

If we want to glorify Him through how we live our lives, we need to align our lives with His character on a daily (and minute-to-minute!) basis.  Perhaps John Piper said it best in his book Desiring God, when he said, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.”  Irenaeus echoed a similar belief, saying, “The glory of God is man fully alive.”

We celebrate the glory of God in us when we find our primary satisfaction and joy in our relationship with God—and when we show worth and dignity to our fellow image bearers.

Consider this prayer today:

“God, thank You for making me in Your image. In the midst of the daily grind, it can be difficult to remember that this life is so short against the backdrop of eternity. Would you help me to reflect your image today in a way that shows I am living with a proper perspective? Would you be my joy and my contentment? God, I ask that I would not just know that in my head but that it would sink deep into my heart as well. I want to be fully alive and fully satisfied in You and not in what this world claims will bring me joy. You’re worthy of it all. Help me to give that to You today. Amen.”