In His Image
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.” (Genesis 1:26).
We speak sometimes of a God-shaped vacuum within us. We say that God made us for himself, and that we are incomplete without his presence in our lives. Many Christians have given thanks for that inner emptiness because without it they would never have turned to God. We rejoice in God’s design that made his creatures incomplete so they would need him.
However, the reality is not that God made us different from Himself, but that he made us like Himself. He made us in his own image and likeness, the very likeness of the Son. He made us as persons just as the Son is a person, and as the Son is not complete in himself, neither are we. Persons, divine or human, cannot live without relationship. The divine persons live in Trinitarian relationship, and human persons are also incomplete with relationship. We must be connected to God- the source of our lives- and we must be connected with other people who he brings to us.
This is why the Bible places such an emphasis on holy love. We are made for love, not a love that uses persons for its own satisfaction, but a holy love that finds its fulfilment in giving itself to and for another.
—Dennis Kinlaw,
This Day with the Master
Genesis 1:26 reminds us that we are made in the image of God—crafted not by accident, but with intention, dignity, and divine resemblance. This means we were created to reflect the very nature of God, who is, at His core, love (1 John 4:8). But not just any love—holy love. God’s love is self-giving, sacrificial, and pure. Being made in His image means we are made for this kind of love too—a love that doesn’t consume or control, but one that serves and blesses. Our identity as image-bearers is inseparably tied to our capacity and calling to love in a way that mirrors the heart of our Creator.
This is why Scripture constantly returns to love—not as a fleeting emotion or selfish desire, but as the essence of holiness. Holy love seeks not to use others for personal gain, but to pour itself out for the flourishing of another. In Christ, we see this love made flesh—love that goes to the cross, not because it gains, but because it gives. As image-bearers, we are invited to participate in that kind of love every day: to forgive, to serve, to lift others up, and in doing so, reflect the God who made us, loves us, and calls us His own. Let’s love others well! —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics