Hi this is pastor Ken and this is my Monday Marriage Message…Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Who is the Most Holy of Them All

Genesis 1:26,27 reads; Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, 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.

Last week I spoke about the truth that God wants us to experience a oneness in our marriages that is much like the oneness shared within the Trinity. I spoke of the imperative existence of oneness in our marriages, and the fact that it isn’t simply a desirable augmentation when possible, but rather a position that God intends all marriages to operate from. Today I want to speak with you about the Second truth I want to glean from this scripture – “In our image and in our likeness.” The intent of God was to create of every marriage an entity that reflected Him in all of its ways. His desire was that people would recognize that likeness is exclusive to the rest of creation, and was purposed so they could commune together in perfect harmony. God has many qualities and characteristics that He desires to see reflected in mankind so that both…might fully recognize the special nature of the relationship of man to God and God to man.

The stated intent of creating mankind is that mankind reflect the creator. I will draw your attention in the coming weeks to the fact that marriage is an integral part of the creation account. As such, the marriage of a man to a woman is intended to further the understanding and capability to accurately reflect God. It is most important that we understand we are created to reflect God in both His image and His likeness. This alone is enough to keep theologians busy for their professional careers trying to fully understand it and convey to us its truths. Obviously then, I will only brush the surface of its meaning and will do so in the simplest of terms.

God is many things…countless are His attributes. In our fallen state we cannot begin to know who He is and how He operates in His entirety. God’s word tells us in Isiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. Therefore, we are wisest to admit that we cannot know even a fraction of what we are created to reflect, yet we would be foolish to allow that to make us believe ourselves unable to do what we were created to do. In other words, though we will be finding out the depth of God’s character and attributes for all eternity, we are responsible to begin emulating each one of them as they become known to us.

What we can know is the nature of God…that He is Holy. His holiness has some defining parameters. Holiness will not allow for sinful action. In fact, the opposite of any sin you can name is holiness. The opposite of a liar is not an honest person, it is holiness. The opposite of a thief is not a preserver, it is holiness. The opposite of a cheater is not a faithful person it is holiness. Therefore, we can know that we are to reflect only those things which are holy. God’s word says as much in 1 Peter 1:15,16 But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” It is interesting to note that this scripture is not the overbearing, impossible command that it is sometimes mistaken for. Rather the connotation is actually that of God attempting to draw us into becoming like Him in order that we might be in right relationship with Him, just as a man might attempt to woo the object of his affection. From this we can extract two things. First that we are called to ensure that our actions do not violate the holiness we are to reflect. Sinful actions never reflect the image and likeness of God. Second, holiness is possible. God does not give us instructions we cannot practice. Notice I did not say perfect. In this life we are being perfected so that in the next we can be presented to Christ as a perfect bride without spot or blemish. (Ephesians 5:27) We must practice reflecting God’s holiness both as individuals and as a part of our marriages if we are to fulfill His purpose for our creation.

Questions to Answer:

  1. Do you agree that the creator gets to determine the purpose of the created?
  2. How do you each think you do at recognizing the necessity to be reflective of God in your everyday lives?
  3. How can you be reminded that your words and actions must reflect the nature of God?

Actions to Take:

  1. Tell your spouse one area you see where you feel they do a good job of reflecting God.
  2. Thank your spouse for being willing to allow God to take control of their life in that area.
  3. Pray that God will help you see the areas He wants you to reflect Him better.

So now, determining to reflect God in every way possible, go be awesome!