“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Genesis 1:27
Years ago my father was a Probate/Juvenile Court judge. Since I was his son, bore his name, and was loved by him, my behavior impacted his reputation. In fact, you might say he risked his reputation in me.
God came down to earth—Emmanuel, God with us. We are in His image. By sharing His image with us, God greatly risked His own reputation. What a great love! In Eugene Peterson’s The Message, we read Paul’s words about this: “Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son” (Ephesians 1:4-6).
Our holiness and worth are not the reasons God loves us. They are the results of God loving us so much that He shared His image with and risked His reputation for us. God figured you are worth the risk… even worth dying for.
About the Author:
Curry Pikkaart was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He earned his BA degree from Central College in Pella, Iowa, and his Master of Divinity degree from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. Since 1974 he has pastored in Iowa (Sioux Center) and in Michigan (Holland, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and South Haven). He’s a trained Bethel Bible Teacher, Stephen’s Minister, and Ministry Coach. He retired from full-time pastoral ministry in 2015 but remains active in the Reformed Church in America. He and his wife Barbara live in South Haven, Michigan, and have three sons and eight grandchildren.
God came down to earth—Emmanuel, God with us. We are in His image. By sharing His image with us, God greatly risked His own reputation. What a great love! In Eugene Peterson’s The Message, we read Paul’s words about this: “Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son” (Ephesians 1:4-6).
Our holiness and worth are not the reasons God loves us. They are the results of God loving us so much that He shared His image with and risked His reputation for us. God figured you are worth the risk… even worth dying for.
About the Author:
Curry Pikkaart was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He earned his BA degree from Central College in Pella, Iowa, and his Master of Divinity degree from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. Since 1974 he has pastored in Iowa (Sioux Center) and in Michigan (Holland, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and South Haven). He’s a trained Bethel Bible Teacher, Stephen’s Minister, and Ministry Coach. He retired from full-time pastoral ministry in 2015 but remains active in the Reformed Church in America. He and his wife Barbara live in South Haven, Michigan, and have three sons and eight grandchildren.
Scripture Focus
Genesis 1:1-31
Insight
Before there was a place for the universe in God’s hand, there was a place for you in God’s heart.
Bible In A Year
- Ezekiel 41-42
- Proverbs 1
- Titus 1-3
