Question for The New Year Ahead: Made in What Image?

New Year's Eve in Times Square, NYC

In many cultures, New Year's Eve and Day are among the most important times of the year. In America, crowds too numerous to count gather in major cities to celebrate with complete strangers. Others prefer to welcome the new year among friends and family. No matter what activity my readers have planned, I wish everyone a Happy New Year.

I want to celebrate my New Year's by sharing a passage, from the book of Genesis, that forms the foundation of my life's philosophy. Keep in mind that, for many around the world, New Year's Day on their calendar system celebrates the beginning of the world and mankind. While reading this passage from Genesis, ask the following questions:

1) What does it mean to be "made in the image"? What image am I made in? 

2) Does the image I'm made in imply that I have innate life purpose and/or responsibility? What is that purpose and/or responsibility?

3) In light of what image I am made in and any responsibility I might have, what is a resolution I can make for this year?

My response to these questions will appear in my reflections at the end of next week.  In the meantime, here's Genesis 1:26-27 (NIV):

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”  So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.