May 16, 2016 (Monday)
What does the Bible mean when it says that God made man in his own image?
C.J. Humphrey, my Bible teacher in college, told us that it means that we, like God, have three distinguishing characteristics: Mind, Will, and Emotion.
The Bible book of Deuteronomy emphasizes the spiritual aspect of our nature, and some of its verses, called the “Shema,” epitomize the way we humans should relate to our Creator. The Shema was memorized by the people, written on their houses, and worn as headbands and armbands so that they would never be without it. Here’s what it says: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:4 NIV). When Jesus was asked to name the greatest commandment, he quoted this verse.
My professor said “mind, will and emotion” demonstrate our likeness to God, and the Shema says loving God with all our “heart, soul and strength” is what God expects from us.
When Paul talked about this subject, he put it this way: “I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God–this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1 NIV).
Many times we find ourselves commending “total commitment” to the Lord. What do we mean by this? I suggest that this means our surrender to God of everything that makes us who we are: physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually.
I am reminded of an old song about love and marriage: “you can’t have one without the other.” This is true of whatever words we may use to describe different ways of looking at ourselves and trying to understand who or what we are. Our physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual natures are all combined to make one person. We cannot separate them. But we can talk about dedicating everything about ourselves to the Lord. That’s what God wants.
Physical commitment means that we recognize that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we should do whatever we can to keep it healthy and strong (Romans 12:1).
Mental commitment means that our minds should be fixed on what is true and good and right (Philippians 4:8).
Emotional commitment is closely connected to mental commitment, and involves the control of our feelings in such a way that God is glorified (Proverbs 23:7).
Social commitment recognizes that we need and want people in our lives, remembering that Jesus grew in wisdom, stature and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52), always reminding ourselves that we Christians are “in the world, but not of the world” (Romans 12:2).
Spiritual commitment is obedience to the Lord in every way, serving Him only, and having “the mind of Christ” (Philippians 2:5ff).
Thou art the potter, I am the clay,
Mold me and make me after thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.