Genesis 1:26-31: a reflection

26God said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. 28God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food. 30To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;” and it was so. 31God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

At the summit of the creation account, God makes humanity, and he does so in a unique way: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And so, God created man in his own image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Alone among all creatures, human beings are made in the image of God, bearing his likeness, given dignity and a special place in creation. And when God had made humanity, and all he had made, he saw that it was very good.

Notice the astonishing dignity given to every human being: made in the image of God. We are not accidents, not merely animals, not insignificant specks; we are made in the image of God, bearing his likeness, crowned with a dignity that comes from our Maker. This is true of every human being, male and female, of every nation and condition; all bear the image of God, and all have, therefore, an immense and inviolable dignity.

That truth shapes how we see ourselves and every other person. It means each of us has profound worth, not because of what we achieve or possess, but because we are made in God's image. And it means every other person, whoever they are, however different or difficult, bears that same image and dignity, and is to be treated accordingly, with reverence and love. When you doubt your own worth, remember: you are made in the image of God. When you are tempted to despise or mistreat another, remember: they too bear God's image. Honor the image of God in yourself and in every person you meet, and treat all people with the dignity due to those made in the likeness of God. Every human being is an image-bearer; see them, and yourself, that way.

Lord, at the summit of creation you made humanity in your own image, male and female, crowning every human being with a dignity that comes from you. Thank you for that astonishing worth. When I doubt my own value, remind me that I am made in your image, with a dignity that comes not from what I achieve or possess, but from being made in your likeness. And when I am tempted to despise, overlook, or mistreat another, remind me that they too bear your image, whoever they are, however different or difficult, and are to be treated with reverence and love. Help me honor your image in myself and in every person I meet, and to treat all people with the dignity due to those made in your likeness. Every human being is your image-bearer; help me see them, and myself, that way.