Mirroring God’ s Heart
Emily Owen, Christian author and speaker, shares a final reflection on this year’ s Disability Awareness Sunday( DAS) theme.
‘ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.’( John 1:14)
Art galleries around the world hold painting after painting depicting Jesus, the image of God, Godin-man.
Have you ever noticed that none of those paintings are the same?
We don’ t know what Jesus looked like.
Yet the Bible tells us that we are all made in God’ s image( Genesis 1:27).
Look at the people around you. All look different, yet all are made in the image of God, and we don’ t know what God looks like.
So how can this be?
Well, we don’ t know what He looks like, but we do know what He is like.
‘ The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.’( Psalm 103:8)
So when we are kind, when we are merciful, when we are patient, when we are loving, we are living the image of God in us.
J. John, in an article published ahead of Disability Awareness Sunday, wrote:‘ Our culture asks,“ How do you look?” God asks,“ How is your heart?”’
Emily Owen leading worship for DAS.
When my face became damaged in surgery, I found great encouragement from 1 Samuel 16:7.
‘ Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.’
Other people saw my damage, but God looked past it to my heart. That was alright, then. Until I asked myself‘ What’ s He seeing there?’
‘ How is your heart?’ It’ s a good question. It’ s a question that, as God’ s image-bearers, we can dare ask. We can invite Him in. We can ask Him to shine His image in and through us.
How is your heart?
You can read more of Emily Owen’ s reflections on being made in God’ s image in her new book:‘ You Say: 101 devotions on your identity in Christ’.
Recipe Request
Through the Roof needs your help! I am a volunteer fundraiser compiling a book of recipes from around the world, to sell as a fundraiser for TTR. I’ d love your ideas!
Please can you send me( karen @ throughtheroof. org) a recipe from any international trips you have been on, with a short story of where you ate it, if possible, and why it is important to you? Please do include simple ingredient lists and methods, and photographs if you can.
Perhaps you could also include a memory of the most humbling meal you experienced during your trip – and maybe your favourite Bible verse about food?( I love the loaves and fishes verses from the feeding of the five thousand.) Also say if you would like your name, and where you are from, to be included in the book.
I look forward to hearing from you and trying out the recipes!
Email: karen @ throughtheroof. org