What It Really Means to Be Made in the Image of God

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Have you ever wondered what it really means to be made in the image of God? Genesis 1:27 reveals that being created in God’s image isn’t just about our unique qualities—it’s about our purpose. In Scripture, God appoints humanity to represent His character and authority on earth, reflecting His love, order, and goodness wherever we go.

This devotional explores the deeper biblical meaning behind being made in God’s likeness, revealing how we were created not only with identity but also with divine responsibility. Like royal ambassadors, we are called to bring light into darkness, peace into chaos, and God’s presence into every sphere of influence.

✨ Highlights

Being made in God’s image goes beyond identity — It’s about living out God’s authority and reflecting His goodness.
Purpose and responsibility — We are meant to represent God’s character wherever we live, work, and influence others.
A biblical perspective — Ancient Near Eastern kings used statues to represent their reign; in the same way, we represent God’s kingdom on earth.
Humanity’s mission — Bring God’s order, kindness, and love into the spaces around you, from your home to your community.
Practical reflection — Use your unique gifts not only to build yourself up but to magnify God’s presence and goodness in the world.

💬 Join the Conversation

What does being made in God’s image mean to you? How are you using your gifts to reflect God’s character in your home, workplace, and relationships? Share your thoughts and encourage others by tagging @LifeAudioNetwork and using #ImageOfGod.

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Full Transcript Below:

What It Really Means to Be Made in the Image of God

by Deidre Braley

Genesis 1:27: So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (NIV).

The verse from Genenesis about God creating mankind in his own image is a clear fan-favorite amongst Christians; it is often interpreted from an individualistic perspective as a way to applaud our innate giftings. People look at their own unique skills, qualities, and personality traits and consider them inherited attributes from God.

And while this view certainly holds value, it’s important to also understand that that’s not all there is to the story. See, when the Bible says that God made humankind in his image, it doesn’t only mean that he gave people a similar spirit or likeness to his own. It also means that he gave them a purpose and responsibility. Let me explain.

In Ancient Near Eastern cultures, kings would create royal statues of themselves—replicas of their own likeness that they could place throughout their empires to demonstrate their dominion even when they couldn’t physically be there. Given this context, the ancient audience of the Bible would have understood that when the author of Genesis said, “So God created mankind in his own image…” it meant that God had, in a similar sense, created humankind as a visible representation of himself when he could not be visibly seen otherwise on earth.

Bible scholar Richard Hess explains it this way:

…at the completion of God’s creation, he left ʾādām as his image to represent his authority on earth. This suggests that the function of the image is to reflect the divine will on earth in such a way as to extend God’s kingdom into every area of nature, society and culture. This is exactly what happens with the first man in Genesis 2.1

So what does this mean for us? In a world where nihilism runs rampant and many question whether their lives hold any value or purpose, this interpretation of Genesis 1:27 hands us a dazzling mission: to reflect God’s divine goodness in a world that craves light. We are not meant to just build our individual nests and keep to ourselves; we are meant to bring order, kindness, peace, and love into every corner we can reach.

1 Richard S. Hess, “Adam,” in Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch, ed. T. Desmond Alexander and David W. Baker (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2003), p. 39 (Under Adam)

Intersecting Faith & Life

Today, take a couple minutes to prayerfully consider the following questions:

Am I using my unique skills and giftings to build myself up, or am I using them to magnify God and reflect his goodness back into the world?
What would it look like for me to reflect God’s divinity in my home? to my neighbors? in my children’s school? in my workplace? in my online interactions? in my unique area of influence?
How can I take one step toward doing that today?

Further Reading

To learn more about God’s intended purposes and responsibilities for humankind—and also what happens when humans don’t follow that path—consider reading the following chapters from Scripture:

On Being Salt & Light: Matthew 5:13-16
The Story of the Tower of Babel: Genesis 11:1-9
An Excerpt from Ezekiel: Ezekiel 15

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