Manna for Your Morning

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  — Genesis 1:27 (NASB1995) In Genesis 1:3, 1:10,1:12,1:18,1:21 and 1:25, God saw that what He made was good. However, on the sixth day, the day He created man, God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. (See Genesis 1:31) Since we are made in the image of Elohim, our Creator, let us reflect His unconditional love, His amazing grace, and His marvelous kindness. For from Him [all things originate] and through Him [all things live and exist] and to Him are all things [directed]. To Him be glory and honor forever! Amen. (Romans 11:36 AMP) Through Him we are to live and function and have our identity... (See Acts 17:28 TPT). The nearness of God is our good; (See Psalms 73:28 NASB1995) O taste and see that Yahweh is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! (Psalms 34:8 LSB) O my soul, you have said to Yahweh, “You are my Lord; I have no good without You.” ...

It is through him that we live and function and have our identity; just as your own poets have said, ‘Our lineage comes from him.’ — Acts 17:28 (TPT) We find our true identity in Christ, as we acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us (in His image), and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100:3) Let us follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Through Jesus, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. (Hebrews 13:15)

Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love. Everyone who loves is fathered by God and experiences an intimate knowledge of him. The one who doesn’t love has yet to know God, for God is love. — 1 John 4:7-8 (TPT) Beloved brothers and sisters, let us be vessels of God’s love. As He continually pours His love into us, let us be devoted to unselfishly love and seek the best for one another. In Matthew 5:44-45 (TPT), Jesus says: “love your enemy, bless the one who curses you, do something wonderful for the one who hates you, and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them. For that will reveal your identity as children of your heavenly Father. He is kind to all by bringing the sunrise to warm and rainfall to refresh whether a person does what is good or evil.” Lavish the love you generously receive from God on all who come your way.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” — Genesis 1:26 (NKJV) 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). God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good! (Genesis 1:31MSG). That includes you! He knit you together in your mother’s womb. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:13-14). Let us have no identity crisis. We were made in His image to reflect His nature. Just as God is love, we are to love. Our heavenly Father is generous, in that He gave His only Son. Let us also be generous. Just as God is forgiving and full of mercy and grace, may we also imitate Him.

“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” — Matthew 5:48 (MSG) Your true identity is the one your Creator gave you when He knit you together in the womb of your mother, not the one the world tries to give you. Our God-created identity is one of generosity and grace. God created us in His image. We are to identify with His loving and forgiving nature. Let us reflect our heavenly Father’s character. Our identity is one of strength and confidence. He told man to take dominion over the earth. As subjects in His kingdom, we can live victorious lives: free, and full of peace and joy. We are overcomers and more than conquerors!

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we're called children of God! That's who we really are. But that's also why the world doesn't recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he's up to. 1 John 3:1 (The Message) What marvelous love the Father has lavished on us! No matter what the world calls you, a child of God is your true identity. It guarantees you a glorious inheritance! As a child of God, you are a beloved treasure and a beautiful, unique creation. And nothing can separate you from His great love!