“Little Christs” in the Beginning

We live in a world obsessed with image. Social media overflows with carefully curated snapshots of beauty, luxury, and perfection: faces softened by filters, bodies sculpted by surgeons, and lifestyles lit just right. Celebrities like the Kardashians set the tone, turning their look into a global standard many try to imitate. But while culture urges us to reshape ourselves into someone else’s image, Scripture reminds us that we were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). When we trade His design for the world’s trends, we risk losing the beauty and purpose He placed in us from the start. True beauty doesn’t come from looking like them—it comes from reflecting Him. God created us to be “little Christs” from the very beginning.

The Pull to Conform

It’s back-to-school season. For children and grandchildren, that usually means new shoes, new clothes, fresh haircuts, and shiny school supplies. Recently, my grown children and I were reminiscing about those memorable shopping trips (made even more exciting by a 40% off coupon to their favorite store). The desire to look like everyone else was strong. What am I saying? It still is strong!

That’s because the desire to fit in promises belonging and admiration. Yet those promises are often hollow, leaving us chasing the next trend and never feeling like we are enough.

God’s Word offers a different path—one where our worth is settled, our beauty is defined by His craftsmanship, and our purpose is rooted in His plan. When we fix our eyes on Christ instead of comparing ourselves to others, we find a freedom the world can’t manufacture: the freedom to be fully ourselves, fully loved, and fully His.

Why blend in with the crowd when you were created to reflect the Creator?

Becoming a Little Christ

This year, I’ve been getting to know C.S. Lewis. Not personally, of course, but through his writings. As I mentioned in the last blog, in Mere Christianity, Lewis writes:

“Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.”

And again:

“The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time; God became Man for no other purpose.” (Mere Christianity, p. 186)

Lewis had my attention.

Because if you’re part of the Church—or part of the Simply Bible community—this is our mission: to help others reflect Christ’s image. And to do that, we need the Bible.

The Bible is our mirror—not Instagram, TikTok, or back-to-school ads. Through the pages of the Bible, the Holy Spirit shapes our hearts and minds so that little by little we exchange comparison for contentment, vanity for virtue, and self-promotion for service.

Paul put it simply:

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” I Corinthians 11:1

He wasn’t putting himself on a pedestal or asking the Corinthians to copy Paul for Paul’s sake. Instead, he was saying:

“Follow my example—but only where my life aligns with Jesus’s life.”

It Starts With Us

So, how do we help others—including our children and grandchildren—become little Christs?

We must become one ourselves. True beauty comes from focusing on the heart. Peter encourages us not to be fixated on our outward appearance, but to:

“Let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” I Peter 3:4

As we seek to have beautiful hearts like Jesus Himself, we must remember that He reveals His heart through His Word. Yet, so often, we treat the Bible as just a book of information instead of a doorway into God’s very heart. He hasn’t called us to mere knowledge. He’s called us to Himself—to think like Him, speak like Him, act like Him, love like Him. I love that we are inspiring each other to this in our Simply Bible community!

“Little Christs” in the Beginning

While preparing the Simply Bible Eve & Mary study-buddy videos, God opened my eyes to see how he created humans to be “little Christs” at the very beginning.

“So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27

The first man and woman were “little Christs”—mirrors of God Himself. Not only did he create them in His image; He shared His authority with them. He invited them to rule with Him, to act as He does. He supplied everything they needed to lead with His goodness. Through Jesus, He continues to do the same for us today.

So again, I ask, why blend in with the crowd when you were created to reflect the Creator?

What If Jesus Were on Instagram?

If Jesus had an account, His posts wouldn’t be about angles, filters, or flawless skin. Jesus would say:

I see you.
I know you.
I value you.
I love you.
You are Mine.

The world says:

Too fat.
Too thin.
Nose too big.
Not enough curves.
Better fix those roots.
Hide those wrinkles.
Wrong jeans.
Wrong bag.
Wrong life.

Translation? You’re not enough.

But God says:
You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Precious.
Chosen.
Loved.
Not because of your face, figure, or following—
but because you bear My image.

The world says, “Not enough.”
God says, “You are Mine.”

The Invitation

This fall, make time to know and enjoy God. Grab a friend, work through a Simply Bible book, watch the study-buddy videos. Or, if you are interested in joining an online group, we would be thrilled to connect you with a seasoned leader guiding a group through The Letters of John. The heartbeat of Simply Bible is to help you see a God who says:

“You are Mine. And that is enough.”

So, stop chasing their mirror.
Start reflecting your Maker.

Why blend in with the crowd when you were created to reflect the Creator?

Lord God, thank You for the gift of being like You. Help us and our dear ones to know and fully experience You and Your joy through Your Word. Lord, we want to reflect You and bring You glory. Change our hearts, Oh God!