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Scripture for the day: Colossians 1:15-16 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through him and for him.

Thought for the day: Position is incredibly important, don’t you think? I mean, where you sit determines what you see (and often who you are). People of importance are always seated in places where the common folk can see them, can get a glimpse of greatness, and the intent is always to impress or intimidate those in attendance. At least that’s the way of the world in which you and I live. Unfortunately character, which is infinitely more important, is often shunted to the background in favor of image.

        The doctor said to a new father, "You have a cute baby." 

        "I bet you say that to all the new parents," smiled the proud daddy. 

        "No," he replied, "just to those whose babies really are good-looking." 

         "So what do you say to the others?" 

        “I say, ‘He's the spittin' image of you.’”

        Do you suppose they teach that in medical school? 

        Actually, that term "spittin' image" stems from an old misunderstanding itself. Joel Chandler Harris, author of the Uncle Remus stories, explained that when an American slave seemed to be saying, "spittin' image," he or she was actually saying, "spirit and image," as: "'He's the spi'it 'n' image of his daddy." It meant more than they merely looked alike. Spirit and image - alike, inside and out.

        And what makes it even more interesting is the ancient truth from the monk Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), who said, "What we love we shall grow to resemble." Or put another way, we become the spi'it 'n' image of that which we hold dear.

        So let’s look again at today’s reading from Colossians. Jesus said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” In other words, he was the spi’it’n image of the Father. If you see love in the eyes of Jesus, you can be assured it is the love of the Father. If you see pity or mercy or compassion, they are the pity, mercy and compassion of the Father. If you look at Jesus and see holiness, it is the holiness of the Father.

        Jesus is the exact inner likeness of our Father in heaven. He was before the foundation of the world was laid. All things were created by him and for him and through his power. He has authority over every power on, above or below the earth. Without him, as John said, nothing has been created that exists today, both visible and invisible. O.K., take a moment to relax and let that truth sink deeply into your consciousness. Now look around you; out the window, up at the sky, at that person who sits next to you at work or school each day. What do you see? Do you see only the sky when you look up or do you see the image of Christ in what he has created? When you look at that person next to you, do you see only the one who’s been driving you crazy with his or her difficult personality quirks, or do you see someone who’s been created in the image of God, just as you have?

        Now Jesus, the spittin’ image of the Father, has been given authority over the church; he is the head of the body of believers and the firstborn of many who will inherit eternal life. But here’s what we really need to grasp today – Jesus’ purpose in coming went beyond mere forgiveness; his purpose was to bring us back to right relationship with the Father and, through His Spirit within us, to conform all who will believe into the image of the Father – to make us over into the spittin’ image of Him.

        Through the blood he shed on the cross we have peace with God and have been reconciled to Him. Now the Holy Spirit is at work in each one who believes, conforming us little by little, day by day, into the image of Christ Jesus – if we but “continue in the faith.”

        Whomever you hold up as your ideal you will resemble. That person in your life who has become your inspiration, you will begin to look like, not physically but emotionally and in your attitudes. Who is it for you? Is that person anyone other than Jesus?  

Now go take on your world. - Bill