Happy Monday

Meaning of man

 

"Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..." - Genesis 1:26.

 

What is the meaning of man?

 

The answer is on page one of the Bible.

It says "and God created man in His own image."

 

What does it mean to be in the image of God?

It doesn't mean physical appearance, but it does mean in God's likeness.

 

We can think like God.

We can reason. We are creative.

 

We are to rule over creation.

We need to care for it, protect it, and use it in a way that is pleasing to God.

 

We are spiritual beings.

Unlike the animals, we can worship God.

God desires a personal relationship with us.

 

We are moral beings.

Man deals with right and wrong.

The best way for us to do this is to obey God's Word in faith.

 

If we submit to God-

- we reflect His nature.

 

But when we don't-

- we look more like beasts.

 

Understanding this-

- does your life reflect the image of God

- or are you more like an animal?


In The News:

Blasphemy Charges Becoming New Weapon Against Egyptian Christians

According to a new study, blasphemy and evangelizing accusations are disproportionately used against members of Egypt's Christian minority -- particularly those working in education, Christianity Today reports. A study to be released at the end of this month by the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) found that 41 percent of blasphemy cases taken to court from Jan. 25, 2011, to Dec. 31, 2012, were filed against Christians, who make up only about 10 percent of Egypt's population of 83 million people. Ishak Ibrahim of the EIPR said people are targeting Christians using the nation's blasphemy statues as a weapon. The total of 36 blasphemy cases involved 63 people, and the country's Sunni Muslim majority, which makes up almost 90 percent of Egypt's population, were charged in 59 percent of the cases. Ibrahim noted that approximately 30 percent of the blasphemy cases were filed against someone in an education environment. Ibrahim also expects to see an increase in charges against Christians, as Egypt's new constitution employs vague language that could prohibit evangelism, though evangelism is not specifically illegal. At the same time, the new constitution more explicitly criminalizes criticism of Islam. Along with the disproportionate number of Christians charged with blasphemy, sentences are harsher for Christians compared with those handed to Muslims, EIPR noted. The study notes that the sentences are also unusually harsh in relation to the nature of the offenses.

Texas Prosecutors Investigate Gosnell-Like Abortionist in Houston

Just days after Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell was sentenced to three life terms for his horrific abortion practices -- including snipping the spines of babies born alive -- a Houston abortionist's former employees are accusing him of similar criminal acts, WORLD reports. Late Wednesday evening, the Harris County District Attorney's office confirmed to Houston's local KHOU 11 News that the allegations were under investigation and are "very similar on the surface" to the Gosnell case. The pro-life group Operation Rescue gave Houston prosecutors a video it produced containing interviews with three people claiming to be former employees of abortionist Douglas Karpen. A fourth informant, who remains anonymous, has also come forward to Operation Rescue, filing an affidavit about her experiences. The women backed up their claims with cell phone evidence, said to be taken at Karpen's facility, the Aaron Women's Clinic. "The photos show babies that are huge, with gashes in their necks, indicating that these babies were likely born alive, then killed," said Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue. "... There are numerous similarities between Karpen and the Gosnell case, including the disregarding of complaints by the authorities that allowed both men to continue their illegal operations." Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst called for a "full-scale" investigation; the district attorney's office said its investigation began before the lieutenant governor demanded a probe.