Introduction

Good morning, family! We often hear that God made us in His image. But have you ever stopped to consider what that really means? Paul writes in Ephesians 4:24 and Colossians 3:10 that what it means to be made in the image of God is that we were originally made in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. Because of the Fall, we now have a marred image of God. Meaning, we have a marred and distorted knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. It is only in Christ Jesus that we are sanctified and have those things restored to some degree in the “new man”.

After the Fall, sin tainted every part of our being. We are created perfect, but rather, God created us to be beautifully human - with all the strength and weakness that entails. None other than Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a titan of Christian thought, once wrote, "God lets himself be pushed out of the world onto the cross. He is weak and powerless in the world, and that is precisely the way, the only way, in which he is with us and helps us." This morning, we will delve into Matthew 14:22-23 to explore this idea further, and discover how Jesus is always there to take our hand, in our triumphs and our trials alike.

I. God Created Us to be Human

God created us to be human. This is a concept that is both simple and complex, as it encompasses all the facets of our existence: our strengths, weaknesses, triumphs, and trials.

When we say that God created us to be human, we are acknowledging that He did not create us to be perfect in the sense that we don’t need His help. Instead, God created us with the capacity for growth, for change, for learning, and for making mistakes. He created us with the ability to feel a wide range of emotions, from joy to sorrow, from love to anger, from peace to turmoil. These emotions, these experiences, are what make us human. They are what shape us, what mold us into the individuals we are meant to be.

A. The beauty of our humanity lies in its dependence upon God. Our flaws, our weaknesses, are not signs of failure, but rather opportunities for growth. They are the cracks through which God's light can shine, illuminating our path and guiding us towards Him. When we stumble, when we fall, we are given the chance to rise again, stronger and wiser than before. This is the essence of our humanity - the ability to grow, to learn, to evolve.

B. Moreover, our humanity is not a solitary experience. We are created for community, for connection with others. Our relationships, our interactions with those around us, are a vital part of our human experience. They challenge us, they inspire us, they help us to see the world from different perspectives. They teach us about love, about compassion, about empathy. Through our relationships, we learn to see the image of God in others, and in doing so, we come to understand more fully what it means to be created in His image.

C. But perhaps the most beautiful aspect of our humanity is our capacity for faith. Despite our flaws, despite our weaknesses, we are capable of believing in something greater than ourselves. By the work of the Holy Spirit in the human heart, we are capable of trusting in God, of surrendering our lives to His will. This faith, this trust, is a testament to the strength of our humanity. It is a testament to the love that God has for us, a love so great that He sent His only Son to die for us, so that we might live.

D. In our humanity, we find our purpose. We find our calling. We were made to glorify God and enjoy him forever. This is the path that God has laid out for us. And though this path may be fraught with challenges, with obstacles, with trials, we know that we do not walk it alone. For God is with us, every step of the way. He is there to guide us, to support us, to comfort us. He is there to remind us that we are His beloved children, created in His image.

II. Strength and Weakness in Humanity

The second point of our sermon today, Strength and Weakness in Humanity, is a profound concept that requires us to look deeply into our own nature as human beings ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO