Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
– Genesis 1:26
 

What sport-loving child hasn’t spent time pretending to be a famous athlete? If you are a baseball fan, you want to hit homeruns like MLB stars Mike Trout or Bryce Harper. Basketball fans dream of dunking a basketball like Duke’s Zion Williamson or NBA great LeBron James. Young football fans spend hours imitating the power runs of Todd Gurley and the circus catches of Odell Beckham Jr., both stars in the NFL. Young girls who love tennis may model their style of play after Serena Williams and her sister Venus. Aspiring female soccer athletes may idolize American stars Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd. In 1992, Gatorade built an entire marketing campaign on the concept of “Be like Mike”, to capitalize on the popularity of NBA star Michael Jordan. English writer, Charles Caleb Colton once said, “Imitation is the highest form of flattery.” We certainly know that’s true in the world of sport.

The Bible says that God created Adam and every human after him in His own image. Why do you think He did that? Did God want man to be all knowing and perfect? We only have to look at our own lives to know that’s not going to work out. Man is a created being with a beginning and an end, yet God always was and always will be. God made humans as the only living things with a true awareness of their Creator. Only man can truly know and love the One who made him. Animals, plants and all that God created are a reflection of Him, but only man was made in His image. God wants us to see Him in the flowers and the beautiful landscape, but He wants more from you and me. Because we are made in His image, He wants a personal relationship with us. We should strive to imitate God in our actions, in our speech and in our love for one another. When we do that, others can see God reflected in us.   

Heavenly Father, may I reflect Your glory in all I do today. Amen.