Daily Devotional: Authority in God's Image
- David A. Case
- Aug 1
- 3 min read
By David A. Case
“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion…’” (Genesis 1:26, NKJV)
The first thing God says about us as human beings is that we are created in His image and given dominion. We were created to carry authority. We were created to rule, to steward, to tend, to keep, to shape, and to bring order. In that sense, we were created as kings.
Yet we must understand authority through the image of God. God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each Person of the Godhead is distinct, yet perfectly one. There is no selfish competition in God. There is no one part of the Godhead using strength to crush another. God is fully cooperative, fully interactive, fully one.
That matters because God created us in His image, and He created us male and female. We are given dominion, but we are not designed to be independent rulers who need no one. A man cannot produce a child alone. A woman cannot produce a child alone. We cannot be fruitful without one another. We are sovereign in one sense, but we are also deeply interdependent.
Our broken idea of authority usually looks very different. We think of authority as one person imposing his will on another. We think of someone having the final say, getting his way, controlling the environment, and using strength to dominate. Jesus called that Gentile authority. It lords over. It exercises power over. It uses position to take.
True authority is influence. It is not merely having a title or a role. It is the ability to shape, serve, release, protect, and call others toward life. Real authority is received from God and others. I only have the authority, or influence, that God or others give me. If I use position without trust, I may have control for a while, but I do not have true authority.
This is why integrity matters. Without integrity, there can be no real trust. Without trust, influence becomes thin. People may obey outwardly because they are afraid of consequences, but their hearts do not open. They do not receive. They do not follow freely.
Godly authority is not a selfish possession. It is a stewardship. If God gives me influence in a family, church, ministry, workplace, or friendship, He is entrusting me with the formation of others. That is an unbelievably significant place. The way authority is carried can help someone see God, or it can distort the way they see Him.
God wants authority done His way. Not domination. Not passivity. Not selfish control. Authority in the image of God is strong enough to lead and humble enough to serve. It recognizes that we need one another. It uses influence to bring life.
Reflection Question
Who has had the greatest influence in my life, and what made their authority trustworthy or untrustworthy?
Prayer
Father, teach me to understand authority through Your image and not through the patterns of the world. Purify the way I lead, influence, respond, and serve. Build integrity in me so trust can grow. Help me carry authority in a way that gives life to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Obedience Step for Today
Identify one area where you have influence. Ask, “Am I using this influence to control, to avoid responsibility, or to help others grow?” Write down one adjustment you need to make.
This devotional was inspired by the book Heart Change Handbook by David A. Case. If you found it helpful, please consider it for your own self-study and suggest it to your church small group or recovery community as a basis for small group study.
If this message has encouraged you to pursue deeper transformation, I invite you to continue the journey through The Heart Change Handbook. It provides a practical, biblical path for spiritual growth and is an excellent resource for church small groups and recovery communities. Consider getting your copy today and introducing it to your group as a guide toward meaningful heart change.
👉 Learn more about Small Group Resources from Heart Change U.
Comments