👑 Genesis 1:27 | What Adam Lost, Christ Gives Back

together with

Happy Thursday, {{first_name | everyone}}!

Here’s an apt quote for what we’ve been meditating on this week.

Augustine of Hippo said: “True freedom is not choice or lack of constraint, but being what you are meant to be. Humans were created in the image of God. True freedom, then, is not found in moving away from that image but only in living it out.”

In today's email…

✉️ subscribe here | support our work 🙌

So God ______ ______ in ______ ______ ______, in the ______ of ______ he ______ ______; ______ and ______ he ______ ______.

Genesis 1:27

Three chapters into the Bible, the image of God cracks.

Adam and Eve, wanting to be "like God" on their own terms (Genesis 3:5) disobey the .

We've done the same ever since, choosing our own path rather than trusting the one our creator set for us.

The image of God was distorted, but not erased. How would it be restored?

Scripture's answer is a person.

Paul calls Jesus "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15).

Everything Adam was meant to be and failed to be, Jesus is. He represents the Father perfectly, all the way to a cross, where he takes the failure of every broken image-bearer onto himself.

And then, he begins remaking us.

Those who have put their faith Jesus are "being transformed into the same image" (2 Corinthians 3:18) and "renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator" (Colossians 3:10).

A new creation. A remade creature.

That is the gospel.

If God is remaking you into the image of Christ, he is doing the same work in the people around you, and some of them can't see it yet.

🤔 Reflect: Who in your life is convinced they're worthless, or too far gone?

🏃 Act: Reach out to one person today, a believer who's discouraged or someone who doesn't yet know Jesus, and remind them plainly that they bear God's image and are not beyond his reach. Send a text, make a call, or have a conversation over lunch.

🙏 Pray

Father, thank you for sending Jesus, the perfect image, to restore what has been broken since Adam and Eve’s rebellion. And thank you for restoring the brokenness in me. Point me to someone today who does not know their worth in your eyes, and give me the courage to share the truth with them and open their hearts to a relationship with you. Amen.

One of the biggest encouragements to our team is hearing how God is moving in the lives of other people. It reminds me that God is active and moving every single day, all across the world.

We would love to hear how God is moving in your life! Simply fill out this 30-second survey and tell us what you've seen God do.

God has brought me through the darkest corners of defeat and given me the grace to learn my self-worth, the courage to step away from tragedy, and to forgive myself. He wakes me up every morning with a grateful spirit.

- Selina, Florida

After the death of my husband and best friend for more than 60 years I have seen the love and faithfulness of God covering me in countless ways. He has met every need and been my comforter in many ways.

- Carolyn, North Carolina

In two weeks, we will be transitioning to memorizing a new Bible verse every single week.

This has been one of the most common requests we’ve heard from you all and we’re excited to help you learn more Scripture.

Naturally, that means our operating costs will be increasing. If you’d like to support us and help us keep Malachi Daily running (and free) for everyone, please consider paying-it-forward!

p.s. If you'd like to give a custom amount to support our work, you can do that here.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27