Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (1:26-28)
We human beings are different from the rest of the creation – we are made in God’s image! It behooves us, therefore, to act like the special creation that we are, and to treat others as the special creation that they are. It’s easy to honour those who are easy to get along with, but the others—those that are annoying, or even antagonistic to us? That’s a lot more difficult, but since they also are made in God’s image, this passage reminds me to treat them as such (and it likely means my calling on Him to help me do so).
As David says:
What is man that You are mindful of Him, and the son of man that You are for Him? Yet You have made Him a little lower than the angels and crowned him with glory and honour. You have given him dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under His feet. (Psalm 8:4-6)
God has entrusted so much to us human beings…as in, all of His creation! If we each do our “little” part (though it seems little is actually significant) the world will reflect God as it should.
Prayer: You have made mankind in your image, O God! You have made us to create, even as You have created. You have even given us dominion over the earth, and yet You have ultimate dominion. Help us to create in a way honouring and glorifying to you! Help me to go about my day with the creativity and dominion you have given me, in the Spirit of Your love and goodness. Amen!
