Scripture:
Genesis 1:26-28
Fri, 21 April 2023

Man: Bearing God’s Image (1)

Observation:

What do you think is the connection between (a) being made in the image of
God, and (b) obeying God’s command to have dominion over the earth?

Deeper Reflection
God designed mankind to bear His image and likeness (v.26). Mankind alone, in all creation, is given this privilege and responsibility! Thus, as Christ-followers, we need to understand the doctrine of the Imago Dei (image of God). What does it mean for us to bear God’s image? In what ways do we share God’s likeness? There are certainly many attributes of God we don’t have, such as omniscience and omnipotence. In the final two Devotional Journal entries for this week, we will look at three ways that we share the image of God: the functional, ontological and relational.Functional. The command for us to have dominion over all of God’s creation (v.26) immediately follows God’s resolution to make humanity in His image. Hence, our functional role in exercising dominion over God’s creation is part of what it means to resemble God.30Ontological. Ontology refers to being – who we are. Like God, we are beings with free will and rationality.31 Because God gave us free will, we have a genuine choice to obey or reject Him. God doesn’t coerce us into loving Him. God also gave us rational minds, that we may “think His thoughts after Him”32 ! We have a Christian duty not just to love God with all our heart and soul, but also with all our minds (Matt 22:37). We are not called to park our brains outside the church door. May God renew our minds through Scripture33 and enable us to understand His character, His works and His world, so that we may discern how to be better witnesses of His in these challenging and chaotic times.
30 Refer to yesterday’s Devotional Journal (20 April 2023) for more on our role in creation 31 Merrill, E. H. (2003). Image of God. In T. D. Alexander & D. W. Baker (eds.), Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch (p. 443). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press 32 This phrase was coined by the astronomer Johannes Kepler, who believed that all scientific research and discovery was “thinking God’s thoughts after Him” 33  Romans 12:1-2.
 
Application:

How can I renew my mind through Scripture and grow in reflecting
God’s image?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for SGI leaders: To continually grow to reflect the image of God more and more
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self
 

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 6:1-10
Wed, 7 June 2023

Consistent Daily Devotion to God

Observation:

What does verse 10 tell us about Daniel?

Deeper Reflection
For Daniel’s distinguishing competency and character, and commitment to ensuring that the king suffered no loss in his empire, Darius “planned to appoint” him “over the entire kingdom” (v.3). But out of jealousy, Daniel’s fellow-commissioners and the satraps attempted to accuse him of “negligence or corruption” in “government affairs” (v.4a). They could find nothing, because Daniel was “faithful” (v.4b). So, they planned to make accusation against him “with regard to the law of his God” (v.5). And they maliciously instigated Darius to establish a law that “anyone who makes a petition to any god or man” besides the king “for thirty days, shall be cast into the lion’s den” (vv.6-9).Then, “when Daniel knew that the document was signed…he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously” (v.10). This was Daniel’s spiritual discipline with a structure of regular “three times a day”. He kept it daily. We can say that Daniel never missed his quiet time. The most important words in the verse may be “when Daniel knew that the document was signed”. They indicate the context of Daniel’s spiritual discipline: A discipleship challenge where his life was at stake. Daniel’s spiritual discipline was no mere religious ritual and routine. He could have skipped his quiet time “for thirty days” and be safe. He didn’t. Daniel’s spiritual discipline manifested his consistent daily devotion to “his God”: “he continued…three times a day…as he had been doing previously.” At the heart of this spiritual discipline was Daniel’s relationship and fellowship with “his God”.
Application:

How can I cultivate a consistent daily devotion to God?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for the Generations: That young people will seek to be devoted to God consistently
  • Pray for self
 

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