Together in Christ: 'Humanity in God-likeness' — Genesis 1:26, 27

Over the last few years, I have watched several survival-based television shows. Consistently they remind their viewers that the hardest challenges for long-term survival are NOT brutal physical conditions or food shortages. Rather, isolation from human contact and the absence of human interaction are the most difficult parts of the survivalists' struggles. These tough individuals admit they yearn for another person to be with them as they face their challenges.

Our passage today shows us the relational significance behind their struggle. As humans, God made us in His image and likeness. He fashioned us for relationships. The Scriptures emphasize God's relational nature in creating us by using the plural pronouns "Our" and "Us" to refer to Himself - God as Father, Son, and Spirit. We were made in the image of God, who is described by "Us" and "Our"! The God of relationships created us for fellowship with Him and with others. ^[1] Despite the challenges, wounds, confusion, and disappointments we sometimes face from our relationship with others, let's also remember that life becomes untenable without genuine fellowship. We must learn to enrich and redeem our relationships with others as we draw closer to God. ^[2] We need the fellowship of others not only to survive but also to thrive. Fellowship is a part of both our physical and our spiritual DNA!