A Man in the Image of God: A Prophetic Plea for Sacrificial Masculinity

A Reflection Inspired by Charles Spurgeon

This reflection began after reading Charles Spurgeon’s July 22 devotion from Morning and Evening. The line that most deeply caught my attention was this:

Passing all human union is that mystical cleaving unto the Church, for which Christ left his Father, and became one flesh with her.

Spurgeon’s words immediately called to mind the well-known phrase from Scripture:

For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife. — Genesis 2:24

This passage, often read at weddings, is not only about earthly marriage. It unveils a deeper mystery—a picture of Jesus Himself. From eternity past, the Son left the presence of His Father to cleave to His bride, the Church. He didn’t just speak love—He became love in action. His cleaving was fulfilled through the cross and confirmed by the resurrection.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. — Ephesians 5:25

Without the resurrection, love would be incomplete. Without the resurrection, the identity of God as love would be undermined. But Christ did rise. And in rising, He validated every act of love He performed. The resurrection is not just a victory over death—it is the consummation of love. Christ lived to die, and died to live again. Why? Because love sacrifices. Love leaves comfort. Love cleaves.

This is the excess—the overflowing abundance—of divine love:

That Christ left His Father to be united with His bride, the Church.

That He died to sin and rose again so we might live in Him.

That He calls us to walk the same road.

He is the standard of love for every human relationship:

• “Husbands, love your wives…”

• “Human, love thy God…”

• “Neighbor, love thy neighbor…”

The resurrection is not just the climax of redemption—it is the heartbeat of divine love.

Christ cleaved to us.

May we cleave to Him in return.

Prayerful Plea

Lord, you said it is not good for the man—the man made in your image—to be alone.

It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. — Genesis 2:18

So I pray:

• Let no man who is unfit for that image find my daughters.

• Let no man who lacks your character and your sacrifice be joined to them.

• A man who should be alone should not find my daughters.

True Love Is Measured by the Cross

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. — Ephesians 5:25

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. — John 15:13

A man who does not understand the meaning of the cross cannot love genuinely.

The measure of a man’s love is not found in his wealth, charm, or words—but in the depth of his sacrifice.

• Christ gave Himself.

• That is the blueprint.

• Anything less is counterfeit.

The Real Attack Is on Genesis

The enemy’s attack on the death and resurrection of Christ is not only theological—it is relational. It strikes at the foundation of God’s design for love and manhood. It targets Genesis itself.

If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. — 1 Corinthians 15:17

• If the resurrection is denied, the standard of love collapses.

• Without Christ, man no longer knows how to love.

• He cannot cleave, because he does not know what love costs.

• He does not lead, because he has not first learned to die.

The World’s Love Has No Altar

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. — 1 John 2:16

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. — Hebrews 13:4

The love celebrated by the world has no sacrifice. It has no covenant. It has no altar.

• It is self-serving, not self-giving.

• It is parasitic, not sacrificial.

• It even dares to touch the innocent—those who are too young, too vulnerable, too voiceless.

• It redefines marriage. It celebrates adultery.

  
  

But none of this is the way of Christ.

• True love respects boundaries.

• True love waits.

• True love protects the sacredness of covenant and body.

Joseph and Reuben: Two Men, Two Destinies

But he refused… How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God? — Genesis 39:8–9

Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it. — Genesis 35:22

Unstable as water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it. — Genesis 49:4

Joseph understood manhood in the image of God. Though betrayed, imprisoned, and forgotten, he did not let his pain define him. When Potiphar’s wife seduced him, he fled—not just from sin, but toward purpose. He chose godliness over gratification. He sacrificed what was available to preserve what was eternal.

Reuben did the opposite.

• He gave into the flesh. He defiled his father’s bed.

• He forfeited his inheritance for a moment of pleasure.

• Joseph gave godliness.

• Reuben gave abomination.

What Does It Mean to Be a Man in the Image of God?

I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a young woman? — Job 31:1

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. — Luke 9:23

• It means living with restraint.

• It means choosing the cross—even in secret.

• It means cleaving—not to flesh, but to the Spirit.

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Even God, in His love for the world, gave His Son.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son… — John 3:16

It is more blessed to give than to receive. — Acts 20:35

So how much more must a man, who claims to love a woman, be willing to give—not take?

It is better to offer the gift of heaven than to receive the grief of hell.

Final Plea

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…? — 1 Corinthians 6:19

• Lord, let no man unworthy of your image find my daughters.

• Raise up men like Joseph—who offer sacrifice instead of sin, who value purpose over passion, who treat women not as toys but as temples.

• Let the sons you are raising in this generation reflect your Son—Jesus Christ—who gave Himself out of love, not for gain.

Amen.