How Does Man Fit into God's Mission? We've read that God's Mission is the praise of his glory and to accomplish this he intended to create a special people to worship him. Man is God's central creation. We are important to him. God values us. God loves us. God made man in his own image. What does that mean? It does not mean we have the same characteristics as God, but that we have similar characteristics. We reflect God's characteristics like a son reflects a father's characteristics. You might say a father and son have the same nose, but no matter how similar, they are not identical. In this same way, we are made in the image of God. God's characteristics such as love and reasoning are present in us. We cannot love as much as he can or reason like him, but we are still capable of these abilities.
One major attribute man has is the ability to think intelligibly and thus can appreciate things. Rocks, stars and mountains do not have the ability to express thought like man. We can say to God, "What a wonderful day God has made." Man can give thanks and praise to God. Man can give glory to God in this special way. This is the purpose for our creation. Man is considered egotistical when he seeks his own glory, we do not deserve other men's praise. But God is worthy of praise and glory because he created everything in love. "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being (Rev 4:11)." How does man fit into God's Mission? Man is the central figure in creation made to worship God.
Interact with Scripture/Questions1. Read Gen. 1:26,27; 2:4-7. 2. Answer these questions from the Bible Passage on a sheet of paper:
How is man different from the rest of creation?
How does that make man special?
Read Psalm 100. This is a an example of man fulfilling his purpose by worshipping God. How is understanding God important to our worship of him?
What is God teaching about himself in Psalm 100?
3. As you pray, understand your special place in creation, you are made to worship God. Worship God in your prayer, praising him for his wonderful attributes, and for his great works in your life.
Scripture ReferencesGE 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. GE 1:28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
GE 2:4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens-- [5] and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, [6] but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground-- [7] the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Psalm 100
A psalm. For giving thanks.
PS 100:1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
PS 100:2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
PS 100:3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
PS 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
PS 100:5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations
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