God’s Perfect Specifications 上帝的完美规格
Dexu Xia
God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
Today's Scripture Genesis 1:26-31
Today's Insights Adam and Eve were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), but that image was distorted when they sinned (3:6, 16-19). Everyone now carries that distorted image of our Creator. But through our salvation and the process of sanctification, we’re being recreated in the image (or likeness) of Christ. Paul wrote, “Those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Romans 8:29). As believers in Jesus, we know that “he who began a good work in [us] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). As we wait for our complete transformation, we can be assured of our dignity and worth because we’ve been created in God’s image
Today's Devotion After a company couldn’t meet the specifications for ink pens used in some US government offices in the 1960s, the General Services Administration asked National Industries for the Blind (NIB) to make 70 million pens—despite NIB having never made pens before. They accepted the challenge and met all the specifications. Since 1967 blind factory workers have assembled these writing instruments used extensively by military personnel. The pens can be used to write upside down, make a mile-long line of ink, and withstand extreme temperatures.
Genesis 1:27 reminds us that each human being has been made to God’s perfect specifications: “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” How we’re created reflects God’s character and nature. Being created in His image means everyone has inherent dignity and worth. God said that each person’s story begins with being made “in [His] image, in [His] likeness” (v. 26). This truth provides the foundation for understanding human dignity, identity, and relationships with others.
Just as those pens serve a vital role, so do we! Though we might feel unimpressive, each of us holds intrinsic value and purpose crafted by God. Today, may we embrace our story, knowing our Creator treasures us and calls us “very good” (v. 31).
Reflect & Pray How have you embraced your story as being created in God’s image? How has your image and identity been formed by Him?
Dear God, thank You that I'm created in Your image.
By Marvin Williams
“上帝照着自己的形象造人，乃是照着祂的形象造男造女。”创世记1章27 节
今日经文：创世记1章26-31 节
今日洞见：亚当和夏娃是照着上帝的形象被造的（创世记1：27），但当他们犯罪时，这一形象便遭到了扭曲（3:6, 16-19）。如今，人身上虽存有造物主的形象，却已被罪扭曲了。然而，借着基督的救赎，使我们逐渐成圣，上帝正按照基督的形象重新塑造我们。保罗写道：“上帝对那些祂预先知道的人，预先就设定要他们效法他儿子的形象，使他儿子在许多弟兄中作长子”（罗马书8:29）。作为耶稣的信徒，我们深知：“那在我们里面动了善工的，必成全这工，直到基督耶稣的日子”（腓立比书1:6）。当我们等候那生命完全的蜕变时，我们可以确信自身的尊严与价值，因为我们是照着上帝的形象被造的。
今日灵修 20世纪60年代，一家公司因无法满足美国政府某些部门对墨水笔规格的要求，美国总务管理局便委托全国盲人工业协会制造7千万支笔。尽管此前从未制造过笔，他们接受了这一挑战，并圆满地达到了所有的规格要求。自1967年以来，盲人工厂的工人一直在组装这些书写工具，而这些笔如今已被军方人员广泛使用。这种笔不仅可以在倒立时书写，能画出长达一英里的墨线，还能承受极端温度变化。
创世记1章27节提醒我们：每一个人的受造，都完全符合上帝那完美的规格要求：“上帝照着自己的形象造人，乃是照着祂的形象造男造女。”我们的受造方式，反映了上帝的品格与本性。照着祂的形象被造，意味着每个人都拥有与生俱来的尊严与价值。上帝宣告：每一个人的生命故事，都是始于被上帝创造成为拥有“[祂的]形象，[祂的]样式”（26节）的存在。这一真理构成了我们理解人类尊严、自我身份以及与他人之间关系的基石。
正如那些盲人生产的笔发挥着至关重要的作用一样，我们亦是如此！尽管我们或许觉得自己平平无奇，但我们每个人都拥有由上帝所赋予的内在价值与使命。今天，愿我们欣然接纳属于自己的生命故事，深知我们的造物主视我们为至宝，并称赞我们为“甚好”（31节）。
反思与祷告 作为按上帝形象所造的人，你是如何接纳并拥抱自己的生命故事的呢？你的形象与身份又是如何由上帝塑造而成的？ 亲爱的上帝，感谢祢按着祢的形象创造了我。 作者：马文 威廉姆斯