Mission of Motherhood, Chapter Two - Jul. 15, 2005
Question 2
Gen 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
Gen 1:27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Gen 1:28 God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
What does it mean to be made in God's image?
From John Wesley's Explanatory Notes:
In his nature, not that of his body, for God has not a body, but that of his soul. The soul is a spirit, an intelligent, immortal spirit, an active spirit, herein resembling God, the Father of spirits, and the soul of the world. In his place and authority. Let us make man in our image, and let him have dominion. As he has the government of the inferior creatures, he is as it were God's representative on earth. Yet his government of himself by the freedom of his will, has in it more of God's image, than his government of the creatures. And chiefly in his purity and rectitude. God's image upon man consists in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, Eph_4:24; Col_3:10. He was upright, Ecc_7:29. He had an habitual conformity of all his natural powers to the whole will of God. His understanding saw divine things clearly, and there were no errors in his knowledge: his will complied readily and universally with the will of God; without reluctancy: his affections were all regul! ar, and he had no inordinate appetites or passions: his thoughts were easily fixed to the best subjects, and there was no vanity or ungovernableness in them. And all the inferior powers were subject to the dictates of the superior. Thus holy, thus happy, were our first parents, in having the image of God upon them. But how art thou fallen, O son of the morning? How is this image of God upon man defaced! How small are the remains of it, and how great the ruins of it! The Lord renew it upon our souls by his sanctifying grace!
It really is an almost uncomprehendable thing to thing about ... the first created man, inspired -- brought to life by the very breath of God --- an habitual conformity of all his natural powers to the whole will of God! Can you imagine? It seems that I am always dragging my flesh, kicking and screaming, into compliance with God's will.
Eph 4:24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.
10 Col 3:10 And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it. [Gen. 1:26.]
Rom 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
So, the image of God is true righteous and holiness and perfect knowledge. Those are things that I believe that Adam and Eve possessed. But as I highlighted in the paragraph from Wesley's notes .. . how far we have fallen!
But that last sentence ... The Lord renew it upon our souls by his sanctifying grace!
RENEW', v.t. [L. renovo; re and novo, or re and new.]
1. To renovate; to restore to a former state, or to a good state, after decay or depravation; to rebuild; to repair.
Asa renewed the altar of the Lord. 2 Chr 15.
2. To re-establish; to confirm.
Let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there. 1 Sam 11.
3. To make again; as, to renew a treaty or covenant.
4. To repeat; as, to renew expressions of friendship; to renew a promise; to renew an attempt.
5. To revive; as, to renew the glories of an ancestor or of a former age.
6. To begin again.
The last great age renews its finish'd course.
7. To make new; to make fresh or vigorous; as, to renew youth; to renew strength; to renew the face of the earth.
Psa 103. Isa 40. Psa 104.
8. In theology, to make new; to renovate; to transform; to change from natural enmity to the love of God and his law; to implant holy affections in the heart; to regenerate.
Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. Rom 12. Eph 4.
We are not destined to hopelessness in a fallen state, a destroyed image. Because of God, we are being conformed to a renewed image ... the image of Christ that includes His righteousness, His Holiness, His knowledge. This is a process ... the words used in those scriptures are active words, being done. It is being done through God's power and because of His love, grace and mercy. However, we do have to act accordingly, in agreement. We have a responsibility as well.
The Ephesians verse and the Colossions verse are both part of passages that are included in an exercise in Martha Peace's book, Excellent Wife. The Put Off/Put On dynamic. (Check www.lifeaction.org or www.marthapeace.org) Can go further with that study with the life action list . . . That would be a great study to do)
In verse 28, when God blessed Adam and Eve, what was the first part of his blessing?
Gen 1:28 And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth.
Be fruitful, multiply ... AND fill the earth AND subdue it AND have dominion over the creatures.
How does having children and filling the earth with them correspond to our responsibility of subduing the earth and ruling over it?
I like what the amplified brings to it ... using all of its vast resources in the service of God and man. We are having children and bringing them up to carry on the responsibility of subduing the earth ... of using the earth and it's resources to serve God and man. All that we are, all that we have ... all from the earth ... all to be used for God's glory. Being productive for His honor.
In what way has God prepared you to subdue the world?
I am just going full circle here.. . but the very fact that I am created in His image is what prepares me to subdue the world, if I embrace the definition of subdue to be making the something productive and fruitful. It takes the gentle power that comes from God ... subdue doesn't mean to destroy but to bring into fruitful obedience. It takes tender care to do that. It takes creativity. Patience. All of things are from the Spirit of God and that is the preparation that God has given me.
In what ways have you neglected your stewardship in this matter?
I think that I talked about this before. I have been very caught up in complaining about all I have to do and how hard it all is and not doing it ... instead of putting my hand to it and getting it done. I have a sense of what I am trying to say here and I am not sure that I am communicating it well ... but the responsibility is HUGE and I can't understand why I don't grab onto the responsibility and do it and feel the satisfaction of a job well done. Instead, I am content with mediocrity.
My personal areas of responsibility ... relationships, homemaking, finances, health, creativity, education ... have been suffereing because my heart has not been in the right place. I have placed the value in word only but not in deed. It is time to get busy with a total transformation that includes action.
What impact would you like to make in the world for the purposes of God?
My name means reflection. I want to be a reflection of the face of God, reflecting back to them the promise and potential in their lives.
How are you sharing this mandate from God with your children?
I guess that she is talking about the mandate to subdue the earth and be fruitful. I am not sure that I have shared this particular mandate with my children. I have shared with them that God has a purpose and plan for their lives. I have committed to walking alongside them and helping them find the calling that God has for their lives. But this particular mandate? I haven't shared it with them as pertaining to their lives.
-- Cynthia
