²⁶Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”  ²⁷So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.  Genesis 1:26-27 NIV 

One of the amazing realities of our reflecting God's image and likeness is we do that as males and females.  God created "man" or human beings in His own image, and in order to do that He created us male and female.  Obviously, each of us reflects the image of God whether we are males OR females, but in some way it is as males and females together that we reflect God's image.  God designed sex and sexuality into the fabric of creation.  As we saw in Sunday's message and as I will take up in these posts later in the week, God's amazing, new creation included an institution within which God's greatest creation  (I say we are God's greatest creation, because only we reflect the image and likeness of God, according to God!) -- men and women -- were to live out the command we'll examine in tomorrow's post:  to be fruitful and increase...

For today, let's consider that the plan and design of God for us to reflect His image was carried out in such a way that we would most clearly reflect that image in couples.  Couples.  Isn't that interesting?  We weren't designed to live in isolation.  In fact, God designed for us to be born into families, and one day to have families.  When humans distorted God's plan through sin, God provided a means for those without biological families to still have families--He made provisions for adopting each of us as His sons and daughters, and He provided the church (first the family of the Jews), for us to live within as His children.

I don't know if you've ever thought about this:  God designed us for community, for relationship, for life together.  So, today whatever is happening in your life, remember:  God loves you, desires to be your Heavenly Father, and created a family in which YOU are a vital part.  Even if you feel all alone, God's family is for you.

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for creating us for relationship.  Thank You that even when we feel alone You are with us, and You have designed relationships for us here on earth.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may live out those relationships in joy.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.