Past and Present

Re: Verse reading–Genesis 1:26-31; Romans 5:1-11 (day five)

Romans 5:8  “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”

Ever notice the 2 verb tenses in this verse?  Past (Christ died) and Present (God demonstrates).  Jesus’ death on the cross was a “once and for all” moment, yet God still uses it in the present as a reminder of His never-ending love.  We remember Christ’s death and are immediately filled with a flood of emotions (thankfulness, joy, sorrow).  It is the work of the Holy Spirit that constantly/presently points us to the death of Christ to prove and pour out the Love of God.  God’s past love (Christ’s death) can be understood as a present reality.  As believers we have the privilege each day to remember back and rejoice now in God’s Love.  When we do this, the result is a deep and daily Hope of the Glory of God.

Created…Restored

Re: Verse reading–Genesis 1:26-31; Romans 5:1-11 (day four)  “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.”  God’s creation was good…for just a short time.  It did not take long for sin to enter the world.  Then, the rest of history has been God’s working to bring about the redemption of man.  We were created in God’s image and only after Christ came to redeem mankind, could we again have a relationship with God.  Once God has poured His love into us through the Holy Spirit, we are able now to seek to become more like Christ.  A lot of big words describing the character of Christ…perseverance, character, hope, atonement, redemption, reconciliation…we are once more being created into the image of God through His Son Jesus Christ.  We could not restore the relationship with God ourselves…it was only through the work of Jesus.  He is our only hope.  A relationship with our Creator God?  Absolutely…but only through Christ!

Love

Re: Verse reading–Genesis 1:26-31; Romans 5:1-11 (day three)

“God created mankind in his own image.”  The celebrated idea of our times is that constraint on human power is oppression, that boundaries are made to be crossed, that order is a tool of the privileged to deny people a voice.  And so the story of contemporary society has become a story of endless self-expression, self-focus, and self-indulgence.  The rise of the “selfie” perfectly sums up the state of our thinking.  As creatures made in God’s image, we, like God, have the power to carry out our will.  Interestingly, though, the Bible says “God is love”, not “God is power.”  God is powerful, but his love informs his power.  Without love, God’s power would destroy, not create.  The same is true for us.  Without love, our power isn’t our glory, but our destruction.

Create

Re: Verse reading–Genesis 1:26-31; Romans 5:1-11 (day two)

So God created…one of the fundamental characteristics of God is that of creator. The first chapters of the Bible are filled with the infinite creativity of our maker. Every shade of green, every variation of plant or animal. The minute differences that separate similar looking things, and the vast canvas of mountains and deserts. Our God is an artist. And we are in his image. Therefore, one of the distinguishing traits that God gave us and no other creature is the ability to create. Although we do not share God’s ability to create ex nihilo (out of nothing), each time we paint, write, sing, construct, or engineer we reflect part of his amazing nature. It was this scripture, and this reason that we have named our Arts Academy Imago (Image).  We are helping foster this love of creativity with our church and the community, and to help them see that all these gifts are given by God, and they all reflect part of him. It is a joy to see these gifts develop.

Imago Dei

Re: Verse reading–Genesis 1:26-31; Romans 5:1-11 (day one)

“Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over.  .  . all the earth.”  Genesis 1:26.  It is an uniquely Jewish/Christian thought.  Not found in other religions or secular philosophy.  Humans are made in the image of God.  Every human is a small representation of His nature!  We do not earn our value.  It is ours by virtue of His plan and purpose.  Some say that His likeness is seen in human CREATIVITY.  He is the creator.  We are “creative”–music, art, architecture, literature.    Others say it is our RESPONSIBILITY to rule over the planet. Others say it is our SPIRITUALITY (lost in sin, but restored in the death and resurrection of Christ)–the capacity for real, mutual friendship with the Holy One.  Whatever else it means, the image of God marks humans as uniquely valuable to Him.  It proposes a HIGH dream of what is planned and possible for every life.

Not until the cloud moves

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 39:32, 42-43; 40:1-2, 16-17,32-38 (day seven–last day in our study of Exodus) 

“If the cloud did not lift, they did not set out.”–40:36. 

Years ago, I learned the spiritual principle.  Stay where God puts you until He puts you somewhere else.  It has been a great safeguard.  Against restlessness, against dissatisfaction, against “looking for another job” when the one I had was hard or disappointing.  The Spirit has a different message.  Stay where you are!  Learn the lesson of this place!  Don’t run!  Don’t blame!  Change!  Endure!  Serve!  Never be LURED away from your present assignment by promises that life will be better or more fair or more fun.  Move only when you are LED by the Lord.  “Is life so wretched?  Isn’t it rather your hands are too small, your vision which is muddled?  You are the one who must grow up.”–Dag Hammarskjold.  When the cloud moves, we are free to do so.  Until then, we are to stay and serve and grow.

He Leads, We Will Follow

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 39:32, 42-43; 40:1-2, 16-17, 32-38 (day six)

The presence of God is synonymous with His leadership. The Tabernacle not only served as a visible reminder that God was with the Hebrews, but that He also intended to lead them every step of the way; expecting them to follow. This serves as a great reminder to us that God is always in the business of leading us as individuals and as a people, His church. It is intended that we not only feel his presence, but also follow his leadership. When he moves we move.

Sometimes we don’t always appreciate this. We enjoy sensing the presence of God, but we aren’t always keen to follow Him when He moves. Maybe because He leads us away from what we are used to, or perhaps His leadership exposes our sin; areas of our life that need redeeming. Regardless we can’t have one without the other. We cannot hope for His presence, and ignore His leadership in our lives. It simply cannot be so, for to delight in the presence of God is to follow wherever He leads.

Spoken Blessing

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 39:32, 42-43; 40:1-2, 16-17, 32-38 (day four)  The Israelites had done all that God had commanded them through Moses.  They had followed His instructions to the letter.  For once, they had done good.  Verse 43 says, “So Moses blessed them.”  Moses spoke good words to them…he praised them for their obedience.  Words of blessing and encouragement can lift the spirit of everyone.  Do you like to receive praise from your authority…your boss, your parent?  Parents (especially Fathers)…do you bless your child with the words of Scripture?  Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…”  A spoken blessing is a prayer.  Giving your child a spoken blessing will help them to strengthen their character, to face temptations, or to walk in wisdom.  For your children to hear you pronounce blessing into their life will impact them immeasurably.  Spoken blessings call on us to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as we pronounce these prayers.  Remember…death and life are in the power of the tongue.

Found

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 39:32, 42-43; 40:1-2, 16-17, 32-38 (day three)

“…in the sight of all the house of Israel”  God acted within view of all Israel.  Indeed, Paul tells us that in creating the material universe, God has acted in full view of the entire human race.  Take issue with God, run from him, tell of your anger towards him, choose not to follow his commands—but don’t claim that he cannot be found.  Don’t assert that his presence can’t be known.  Don’t state that his existence is unlikely.   We don’t get to bend reality to our ideas.  If you would follow your own desires instead of God’s direction, then at least declare your intentions to God himself.  Have that serious conversation.  If you do, you can find the way towards saving grace when your will leads you to a dead end.

Wherever He Leads, I’ll Go

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 39:32, 42-43; 40:1-2, 16-17, 32-38 (day two)

And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. (‭Exodus‬ ‭40‬:‭36-38‬ KJV)

When the Lord was calling me to full-time ministry this part of the Exodds story spoke the most to me. Whatever the season of life, career, family you may be in when the Lord moves, it’s time to go. What gave me the most peace about this is that the Israelites may come to a wonderful oasis on their journey where they felt they could stay indefinitely, but when the cloud moved they knew it was time. It is rarely about our comfort or convenience, but always about his plan. I didn’t have a cloud to see, but I relied on the Holy Spirit to guide me, the Word to instruct me, and the assurance that God heard my prayers for guidance. Wherever he leads, I’ll go.