Buenas tardes, hermanos y hermanas in Christ. Good afternoon, brothers and sisters in Christ. Today's passage is Genesis 1.26-29. Genesis 1.26 Genesis 1.26-29 Then God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in his own image, and the image of God, he created him. Male and female, he created them. And God blessed them and God said to them, be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth. And God said, behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of the earth and every tree with a seed in its fruit, you shall have them for food. Entonces dijo Dios, hagamos al hombre a nuestra imagen, conforme a nuestra semejanza, y tenga dominio sobre los peces del mar, las aves del cielo, el ganado, y todo la tierra, y sobre todo animal que se desplace sobre la tierra. Creó pues Dios al hombre a su imagen, a imagen de Dios lo creó, hombre y mujer los creó. God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, judge it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and all the animals that move upon the earth. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for bringing us to this time of hearing your word. Please fill us with your spirit so that we may truly hear, understand, and fully obey your will. Bless us as we apply your word in our daily lives, and may our lives glorify you. We pray in Jesus' name, amen. Amen. And there is a saying that human life is a series of the choices. And throughout this year, you may choose many things and work and earn certain things through your efforts. While making decision is undoubtedly important in our lives, mature people in thoughts admit that our choices are made within the boundaries of what has already been given to us. Please consider these words when I mention it. Parents, gender, family member, birth date, health condition, senses, and talents. The era we were born in. Lifespan. Age. Community. Traditions. Economic environment. Our daily life, economically. Political context. Our spiritual gifts. Time. Weather. Seasons. Our coworkers. Neighbors. Or even the opportunities for the education. The list goes on and on. Just imagine that I speak to God, God, I want to be born on nice weather around spring 2025. maybe around 12 p.m. in United States to one of mother's room, maybe middle class, sitting with me, good at math and science, and then I want to live up to 80 years and maybe die peacefully in my sleep. Y también decirle a Dios, me gustaría nacer a las 12 de la tarde en una clase media económicamente y ser bueno en las matemáticas y vivir hasta los 80 y morir en paz en mi dormir. It is very absurd. These are not the things that we select or choose, but they are best described as given to us. So what is the truth today? So through today's passage, I want us to focus on the word given found in verse 29, and then reflect on the four things that God has given to us. And based on these reflections, let us consider how we ought to live in light of these truth. First, given his image and his likeness. Genesis chapter 126a part is that let us make man in our image and after our likeness. So according to John 4.24, God is spirit. This means that God does not have a physical feature like eyes, a mouth, hands, or feet as we do. Therefore, being made in his image in the text does not refer to an external resemblance. Instead, it signifies a representation, a reflection of God's character or God's attributes, although in finite, in limited manner. Now, this text does not refer to us being similar to the image of God, that is, in our physical form, but this represents a reflection of the attributes of God. The original Hebrew word also carries the idea of shadow or shade in word image and a fundamental similarity or resemblance in word likeness in which it is implying that humanity reflects God's character as such as wisdom, love, justice, and creativity. Now, the word used here in Hebrew has the meaning or the idea of a shadow. And it is fundamental for us to understand the similarity and the similarity that this word indicates. And this reflects that we as humans reflect the character of God, that is, his wisdom, his love, justice and creativity. We are special beings uniquely created in this way. Spiritual attributes, moral character, intellectual capabilities, and then responsibility and authority, ethical likeness and relationship likeness, creativity likeness is we reflect God's character. Second, given responsibility and authority. and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." Genesis chapter 1, 26b part. Dice el versículo 26 también, y tenga dominio sobre los peces del mar, las aves del cielo, el ganado, y en toda la tierra y sobre todo animal que se desplaza sobre la tierra. God has entrusted us with a responsibility and an authorities. The phrase to have dominion means to govern, rule, reign, or exercise power. Since we all are created in God's image, we are given the role of stewards, acting as God's representatives, and to protect and care for his creations. So this responsibility and the authorities are also gifts is given to us, they're not earned by us. Third, giving blessings and then commandment. Genesis chapter 128, and God blessed them and God said to them, be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth. After declaring his plan in verse 26, Trinity God created a humanity in verse 27, After creation, God's first action was to bless them. Similarly, God blessed the animals he created on the fifth day, granting them the ability to be fruitful and multiply. However, the blessing given to human beings goes further beyond. It comes with a command to subdue and have dominion. As a biblical scholar has pointed out that this blessing, God's blessing, is not merely a kind gesture with human beings each other, but it grants humanity the purpose and ability to fulfill God's command. It goes beyond a kind word of blessing. It provides our purpose in life and then capability to achieve it. Fourth, given food. Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth and every tree with the seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. Genesis 129. Genesis chapter 1 verse 29, God also said, Here I have given you all the seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and all the tree whose fruit bears seed, they will serve you as food. When you look at all the vegetables God has given to us, fruits and grains, we cannot help but marvel at His wisdom because it is very creative. So fruit that or plants that has a red color has observed a lot of the sunlight throughout the year. It provides circulation immunity for our body. Yellow color foods that help us to prevent aging and provide antioxidants. Las comidas color amarillo, de igual manera, nos proveen antioxidantes. And in green food, it provides a vitability of the spirit as a kind of metabolism and then reduce fatigues. Y las comidas color verde, de igual manera, nos ayudan en nuestro metabolismo y nos ayudan con el cansancio. And black food supports heart health and then combat chronical illnesses. Just imagine that if we are born to eat just paper all throughout life, that I have to eat this paper. Just imagine how miserable it is. God's provision is very creative and delightful, also very purposeful. So as we reflect on these four gifts, four given things, I encourage us to think about very few practicals this coming week. First, teaching our children, neighbors, and everyone around us that we are created in God's image. Primero, enseñarle a nuestros hijos, nuestros vecinos, familiares, todos los que están en nuestro alrededor, que nosotros somos creados en la imagen de Dios. It is from Deuteronomy 6, 4 to 9, says, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You should love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words that I commend you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, when you rise. You shall buy them as a sign on your hand, and then shall be as a frontlets between your eyes, and you shall write them on the doorpost of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomio, capítulo seis, cuatro al nueve, dice así, Oye, Israel, Jehová nuestro Dios, Jehová es uno, y amarás a Jehová tu Dios de todo tu corazón y de toda tu alma y con todas tus fuerzas. Y estas palabras que yo te mando hoy estarán sobre tu corazón, y las repetirás a tus hijos, y hablarás de ellas estando en tu casa y andando por el camino, y al acostarte y cuando te levantes. y las ataras como una señal en tu mano, y estaran como frontaletas entre tus ojos, y las escribiras en los postes de tu casa y en tus puertas. especially with our children that take every moment, whether sitting, standing, walking, traveling, sleeping, or rising, we have to diligently teach them, and we are created by God, that we bear his image, that we are precious in his sight. Especialmente con nuestros hijos, debemos de tomar cada momento para enseñarles cada momento mientras estamos en casa sentados, parados, estamos en viaje, estamos al dormir o al levantar, enseñarle a nuestros hijos diligentemente que nosotros somos creados en la imagen y semejanza de Dios. A few weeks ago, and then one of my daughter, Evangelina, came to me and then saying that her friend's girlfriend saying that she will get married with a woman in the future. So in some way, she got so much shocked by just what her friend is saying because it is a girlfriend. So I asked her, what do you think? She knew the answer that she is not supposed to get married with a woman. Now, she knows that the answer is that she is not supposed to marry a woman. But that is our children's context. Now South Korea government, it tried to pass this law that you are not supposed to talk about this matter in public. I heard from Enrique that Colombian government already passed that law. So very important thing is that from the young age that we are created in his image, that gender is given by God. Second, be grateful for the wisdom and abilities God has given you. I'm very thankful that last week several ladies from our congregation helped me to organizing the Mercy Storage. I am very happy that a week ago a group from here, from this congregation, was here and helped me organize the hall down here. So if you don't have winter clothes and then after worship service, I will open the basement door. Please quickly come and then pick up whatever you need. What I'm trying to say is that the ladies I think they finish within 30 or 40 minutes when they sorting out all the clothes. Guess what? That project, how many months that it is linger in my mind? So it is lingering on my mind for six months that I see that project that I cannot do it. preparing sermon and then engaging with the conversation, sometimes preparing meal for you guys, give me great joy. But in the meantime, when my wife Yoon is asking me to, hey, can you help me organizing clothes, then it gives me much trouble. So I met Daniel and Ezekiel, my brothers, and their strength and their strong suit for them is they're working on construction. They're proud of themselves and they like to work with it, but what about you? What has God given you? And be grateful for just what God has given to you. Third, be thankful for the blessings God has given us. After usually the service, I'm standing at the back door and then saying to you guys, blessing, God bless you, or bendiciones, Dios los bendiga. Just while I sincerely meet, but it doesn't mean that I can bless you, rather than I know that God is the one who bless you. Now, while I am sincere in blessing them in this way, I am aware that I cannot bless them, but I do know that the Lord can bless them. I want to emphasize that when God blessed us, it's kind of very practical that he provides food. He provides wisdom and ability to us so that we can earn money from our work. It is very practical, just blessings. It is really meant to it, not as, when I say that lip service, it's not like that. Now, I want to emphasize that when the Lord blesses us, it is something practical. He blesses us and gives us food. He blesses us and gives us wisdom, understanding, the ability to work. So, we have to recognize that the blessing is something practical. It is not just a word, but something practical. So, this is Psalm 107, one says that, Oh, give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. I encourage you to think about this. Give thanks is not a just kind of encouragement. It is actually a commandment, the gratitude. Grateful heart is not just an option, but it is a command from our God for us as his creation. And I want to remind you that having gratitude, giving thanks, is not something that is optional for us, but it is something that the Lord asks us, commands us to do. So please come this Thursday 6 p.m. because God blessed us this past year that how much we should be thankful for him and remember that how much he blessed us throughout this year. Now with this in mind, this Thursday at 6, come and enjoy everything that the Lord has given us in the way that He has blessed us. So come and be with us, enjoy a good meal, and we will sing and give thanks to the Lord. Fourth, be thankful for the food. Last summer my parents visit just United States for over the summer. That visit was very precious, meaningful to me. Just two years ago, my father was very healthy and would run around with my children for playing. But within these two years, he was diagnosed with dementia, and then Alzheimer, and then Parkinson's disease. So he was unable to talk with me, and sometimes he forget who I am, sometimes he cannot speak properly, and even he cannot walk properly too, which is heartbreaking to me. My father also now can't walk, and he can't speak very well either. This is something that causes me a lot of pain. So recently my mom just text me, I think actually yesterday, that he even now these days can barely eat one meal a day. Recently my mom sent me a text message informing me that my dad can't even eat one meal a day. So simply, just briefly explain that his brain has lost his ability to recognize food. So when I observed, has been observed, has observed him that I noticed that he eat food and then but doesn't know how to chew. So his recognition system is kind of falling apart. Listen very carefully. Act of eating, smelling food, developing appetite in our mouth, and then saliva coming, developing in our mouth, food being chewed, traveling to our stomach, providing energy for our body. It is not simple. Now, think about this. The ability to eat, to smell food, to have an appetite, to form the necessary saliva from our mouths to chew, to chew and swallow, and for the food to come down to our stomachs. This is a process that is not simple. This is something that is very complex. So all of this process, our ability to smell food and feel hunger and then digest is amazingly designed by our Creator God. While listening my just preaching message right now, our hearts diligently pumping blood to our body so that we can live. So to claim that I did this with my ability or this is what I did before God is the highest of the arrogance. So without God's provision, we cannot make any choices, not even to chew food in our mouth. This is a final just words with you. To those here who may not yet fully understand or accept God's grace, let me share this. God created your souls forever, to live forever. Yet because of our sins, our hearts, eyes, ears are dead to him. Without God's intervention to bring us to life, we cannot know or believe in him. The God who give all blessings is the same God who offers eternal life to you. Y el Dios que nos da todas estas bendiciones es el mismo Dios que nos da la vida eterna. Salvation is not something that you can buy from market, it is given by God. Y de igual manera la salvación no es algo que nosotros podemos comprar o desarrollar nosotros mismos y no es algo que es dado a nosotros. As Paul describes, it is gift of God. If you are hearing this message today, know that this is an opportunity for you. It is also given by God. Believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins to bring your soul to life. Accept this gospel, say amen, and then as you receive the gift of salvation today, Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we are grateful that you created us in your image, entrust us with us responsibly by giving wisdom and abilities, bless us with a commandment, and provided us with a food to sustain and enrich our lives. Padre Celestial, te damos gracias que tu nos has creado en tu imagen y nos ha otorgado responsabilidad y nos ha dado sabiduría y habilidades, capacidades, Help us to live in gratitude and honor you by using well what you have given to us. For those who have not yet received your gift of salvation, please open their hearts, eyes, and ears to see your grace, which is all given by you. In Jesus' name, amen.