Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule…” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule…” (Genesis 1:26-28, NASB)
“A Year Later, Tiger Has Adjusted His Goals” was the title of a PGATOUR.com article written by Mike McAllister at the end of last year. The article begins “A year ago, Tiger Woods’ primary objective as he returned to competitive golf was fairly simple. He just wanted to make it through a tournament week, or a specific stretch of golf, without his body breaking down.”
It is no surprise that after his successful reemergence in 2018, Woods has set loftier goals for 2019. It is as if he has been given new life, and with new life comes greater goals and a renewed purpose. He acknowledges that his goals going forward are not the same as they were 15 years ago, but they are realistic for his age (now 43) and include winning tournaments again.
Like Tiger Woods, you may have goals for this year. Let me suggest one more to add to your list: Be fully human.
Yes, you read that accurately. I am encouraging you to make 2019 the year you became more human—more the man or woman God intended you to be when he gave you life.
Jesus endeavored to restore humanity to its original purpose, to be fully human and work alongside God again.When God created the first humans, Adam and Eve, he made them in his own image. God made them to be physical representations of him. To be fully human, as we read in today’s passage, means that we are experiencing God’s blessings, being fruitful, and even ruling over some part of this world as representations of God. This was what was intended when God made man and woman. Sin and death eventually entered the world and began to rule over humanity; however, our design did not change. Thus, Jesus, came down from heaven, made God’s way known, sacrificed his life for our sin, and made a pathway for humankind to return to paradise with him.
The authors of the New Testament understood that Jesus came to reestablish God’s reign on earth. Scripture consistently refers to this as the kingdom of God. Paul wrote, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive… So also it is written, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living soul. The last Adam [Jesus] became a life-giving spirit’” (1 Corinthians 15:22, 45). We have been given this same spirit through Christ to give our lives purpose and meaning. To be fully human in Christ is life-giving, fruit-producing, and focused on his kingdom. In this way, we too may rule with him in his grace, truth, and loving-kindness.
In 2019, let us seek to “lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, [so] that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Ephesians 4:22-24). Jesus endeavored to restore humanity to its original purpose, to be fully human and work alongside God again. We are invited to be “God’s fellow workers” (1 Corinthians 3:9) purposed to carry out his plans as “His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23).
May we all become more fully human in 2019, discovering the plans of our creator, removing that which does not belong in his kingdom and working alongside him according to his will.
—
Josh Nelson
January 20, 2019
Copyright 2019 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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