GOD'S PROMISE FOR YOU

God Will Make You Like Jesus

God said, "Let us make human beings in our image and likeness."

— GENESIS 1: 26

Has anyone ever said you "take after" your mom or your dad? "Take after" means that you look like someone else. For example, you might have your mom's eyes, your dad's ears, or your great-uncle Alfred's freckled nose and flaming red hair!

There's Someone else you "take after" too. God. That's because you are created in His image. He made you to be like Him. Not to be a god, but to be a child of God who loves and gives and helps like Him. He even sent His Son, Jesus, to show you how. And each day, God works to make you just a little bit more like His perfect Son.

Out of all the amazing things God created, only people were made in His image. Not the oceans, not the birds, not the chimpanzees. Only people were made in God's image.

So if you ever wonder who you really are, remember this wonderful promise: you are made in the image of God. You are His idea. His child. You "take after" Him. And as you learn to love Him, He'll make you more and more like His Son.

from Genesis 1–2

God had had a busy week.

He had taken a whole lot of nothing and created ... well ... a whole lot of everything. And with just a few words! He spoke, and light shot across the skies. Oceans and mountains, rivers and seas, plants and trees — all were created when He spoke. At God's command, eagles soared, whales sang, and lions roared.

Yes, God had been busy. And He wasn't finished yet!

God stooped down and scooped up a mound of dust. Like a potter shaping clay, He began to work. He made eyes to see, ears to hear, and a mouth to smile. He added hands to help, a mind to think, and a heart to love. And when everything was just as He wanted it to be, God leaned down just a little bit more and breathed life into His creation. This was the first man, and he was called Adam.

Adam's first job was to name all the animals. Just imagine! Did they all wait quietly in a line? Or did Adam have to chase them around, climbing up trees and peeking under bushes? And the names! How did Adam think of them all? Did he start with A and work his way to Z? "Hmm ... that one with the funny nose I'll call aardvark." Then came bat and cat, followed by donkey,elephant, and falcon. "And you over there with the long, long neck? Giraffe is the name for you."

But out of all the animals — from aardvark to zebra — Adam didn't find a helper that was just right for him.

So God made Adam fall into a deep, deep sleep. He took one of Adam's ribs and used it to make one last creation: woman. God brought her to Adam, and she was called Eve.

Adam and Eve were unlike anything else God had made. They were created in His image, to be like Him. To give, to help, and to love like Him.

Do you ever feel small? Or not very important? It happens sometimes — when other kids make fun of you, when you're different, or when you mess up or make a mistake. If you ever find yourself wondering who you are or if you really matter, remember this beautiful promise from God: you are His child, made in His image, and you are worth everything to Him.

Of course, you aren't perfect! But God promises to keep working on you, every day making you just a little bit more like His perfect Son, Jesus. A little more loving, a little more giving, a little kinder too.

And that promise isn't just for you. Every person is God's beloved creation — no matter who they are, where they live, or what they have or do. So if you ever get angry or upset with someone, remember that God is working on that person too.

Everywhere you go and in everything you do, remember God's promise to you. You are His child. His idea. Created in His image. And ...

He will make you more like Jesus.

MY PROMISE TO GOD

I will trust God to teach me to be more like Jesus.

* * *

Dear God, when this world tells me I'm nobody important, remind me that I am Your child — very loved and very important to You! Amen.

GOD'S PROMISE FOR YOU

God Will Win the Battle

The God who brings peace will soon defeat Satan and give you power over him. — ROMANS

Do some days feel like you're fighting a battle? You try to do what's right, but it's just so hard! It's like there's someone fighting against you, trying to trick you into doing things you know you shouldn't do — like snatching that game from your sister or fibbing to your mom to get out of trouble.

Well ... someone is out to trick you. His name is Satan, but he goes by some other names too. Like "Devil" and "father of lies." He's the ultimate villain, the crookedest crook, and the baddest of bad guys. And he's only got one mission in mind: to make God's children lose in their battle to do what's right.

But God gives you a promise for this fight: in the end, it's the Devil who will lose. No, that doesn't stop him from fighting. After all, the Devil has been at it a really long time — since Adam and Eve. But always remember this: the days may be tough and the fight may be terrible, but God will win.

It was a beautiful day in the garden. Adam and Eve wandered among the trees. They nibbled on berries and scratched the elephant behind its ear.

God had given them a fresh, new world. And everything in it was good.

Except the snake.

Of course, this was no ordinary snake. This was that sneaky old Devil himself.

He hid in the trees and waited to spring his trap. When Eve passed by, he called out, "Did God really say you can't eat any fruit from any tree?"

"No, we can eat any fruit," Eve said, "except fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden. If we even touch that fruit, we'll die!"

(Actually, God didn't say they couldn't even touch it, but Eve wasn't taking any chances!)

"You won't die," the snake hissed out a lie. "It'll make you as wise as God. God just doesn't want you to be as smart as He is."

Eve looked at the snake and then at...