How amazing is it to think that we have been fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God?! (Psalm 139)
God thinks, longs, chooses, and feels and as His image bearers we also do the same, but we are dependent on Him. God He has created us with five areas of functioning:
Spiritual
We have a spiritual core to our personality that has the capacity to experience a profound sense of wholeness when in relationship with God.
Augustine said, “Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in Thee.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23
"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Rational
We bear God’s image in our ability to think and reason and understand.
2 Corinthians 10:5 “We break down every thought and proud thing that puts itself up against the wisdom of God. We take hold of every thought and make it obey Christ.”
Volitional
We have the ability to choose, to set goals and make decisions. We therefore image God in our capacity to move purposefully in a chosen direction.
Emotional
Jesus felt deeply and experienced all of the emotions we do, yet without sin.
(see Isaiah 53:3, Matthew 9:36, John 11:35, Mark 10:21, Mark 3:1-6 for some of the emotions Jesus experienced)
Deuteronomy 6:5 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
Physical
We have been designed to function in a human frame through which the other parts of ourselves can be effectively expressed.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Things to think about:
Because we are created as body, soul and spirit, each part impacts on the other, and if one part is out of sync it will impact on another area of our functioning. Sometimes physical causes can impact our emotions, behaviours and spiritual state and vice versa our emotional and spiritual state can impact us physically.
How are we functioning today? How am I spiritually, emotionally and physically? Spend some time talking with God and being honest with Him about how you are doing in all these areas. He longs for us to meet with Him. Do I need to see a GP about something physical? Or would it be helpful to talk and pray with someone further about these things?
Philippians 4:4-9
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
