Dear Friends,
As we enter this holy season of Lent which then leads us to Easter, the day when we celebrate the resurrection of Christ Jesus our Lord, we often ask ourselves, “Who am I?” The answer according to the scriptures is that we are people created in the Image of God. In Genesis 1:26 we read, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’” We have an inherent dignity and worth. Our God calls us to know Him and to be known by Him.
However, this image has been broken and shattered by sin. We need more than superficial cleansing. We desperately need to be resurrected and recreated in Christ Jesus. In Ephesians we see that we are, “to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Gregory of Nazianzus, who was born in 329 A.D., was also known as Gregory the Theologian, and served as Archbishop of Constantinople. Gregory said this in a sermon that he preached one Easter:
“Yesterday I was crucified with Him; today I am glorified with Him; yesterday I died with Him; today I am [resurrected] with Him; yesterday I was buried with Him; today I rise with Him…Let us offer to Him Who suffered and rose again for us…not gold, or silver or costly stones, but rather…Let us offer ourselves, the possession most precious to God, and most fitting; let us give back to the Image what is made after the Image. Let us recognize our Dignity; let us honor the Archetype— [our God]; let us know the power of the Mystery, and for what Christ died.”
I am thankful to God that at Denver Rescue Mission we “Believe in Miracles.” We are often blessed to see people whose image has been marred by sin restored by the Creator back into His Image and restored back into fellowship with Him as precious gifts that are of infinite worth in His eyes. And we thank you for joining us in this important work!
Gratefully,
Rene Palacios
Vice President of Programs
This post is part of April’s Changing Lives Newsletter. This month, we’re sharing Lloyd’s story of redefining himself after addiction and loss and rebuilding his life in: Anything is Possible.
