God blessed

And God blessed them; and God said to them “Be fruitful and multiply…” Gen. 1:28 (NASB)

In God’s image and likeness, He has given us the responsibility of blessing. Just as God has bestowed His blessings on humanity, so we must do, and it must start at home. Husbands with wives, wives with husbands, parents with children and even children with parents.

To bless means to confer well-being or praise. To praise our family members when goals are accomplished, good grades are earned, chores are done. When dinner is especially delicious, dry cleaning is picked up and laundry put away. All these things are things that need to be done and we expect them to be done. But if we will take a minute and praise those who do these things, maybe it won’t seem so bothersome to begin with.

I think we can all realize the potential danger in not praising our family.  Our children, even our spouses, will seek and possibly find others who will praise them for the things they do or say or for the work they do or even their appearance.   

God blesses us every day and likewise in His image and likeness we should bless our family everyday.

In His Image: God Seperates

And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.  Gen. 1:4 (NASB)

In the image and likeness of God we have the ability or power (if you will) to separate. Hearkening back to our last study, we were talking about speaking in a positive manner to achieve positive results. Separating doesn’t sound like a positive action, in fact it sounds really negative. Well, that would all depend on what we separate from. If we separate ourselves from sin, that is a positive action. If we separate ourselves from God however, that is a negative action.

The idea is that we, as humanity, are set apart from the rest of creation. We are different! For we are all created in the image and likeness of God.

There is also a particular verse, quoted by St. Peter from the book of Leviticus that says,” You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (Lev.11:45, 1 Pet. 1:16). Does God mean we are to be sinless like He is? No; what He means is for us to be separate from, like He is. What is God separate from? Everything He created; He is above all, there is nothing like Him, He is totally separate from everything. And yet, in His image and likeness, He calls us to imitate Him.

Just as He called Israel to be the light to the Gentiles, so He calls His Church to be the light of the world. We must first separate the light from the darkness in our own lives, confessing and turning from our sins to seek unity with God. We must then separate ourselves from the rest of the world, if we want to truly participate in the kingdom life we’ve been called to.

It’s not popular, it’s not convenient and it’s not easy, but to act in the image and likeness of God, it is necessary.

In His Image: God Spoke

Then God said “Let there be light;” and there was light.  Gen. 1:3  (NASB)

God saw the emptiness, the darkness, the formlessness and He spoke to it. There was change. Our circumstances will never change if we put our heads in the sand and not address what is going on around us. God spoke and there was a reaction. When we speak, there will be a reaction. We must speak in a positive manner to achieve positive results. Isn’t that the image, and the likeness of God?

Our words have the ability to build up, but if we are not careful (to act in God’s image) our words can tear down and destroy. We also need to understand that not addressing difficult situations is denying the image and likeness of God. You can look at Gen. 3:6 as well as Gen. 16:2 and see the results of not addressing some difficult situations.

When God saw a problem (our sin) He didn’t bury His head in the sand and say,”Oh, they really didn’t mean it.” He didn’t excuse it away. He took action; first in the old covenant and now in the new. God, which is the very essence of love, saw a problem and addressed it with love, with His son Jesus Christ.

So when I speak, I must speak in love with wisdom and courage seeking justice. When I do that, I can be assured that I am acting in His image and in His likeness.

In His Image:God Moves

And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.  Gen. 1:2(NASB)

What is the formlessness, darkness and emptiness in your life? The darkness of depression? The emptiness of a lost relationship? The formlessness of your life; what’s it all about? What’s my purpose in life? These are questions that everyone asks in life, at one time or another. Some seek to find the answers, while others settle into their circumstances.

In His image and His likeness, we have the ability to look upon the formlessness, darkness, emptiness and move through it. To not be content with the status quo but moving beyond what is considered by most to be acceptable, and desiring completeness.

There are situations in life that call for contentment (Ph.4:11, Heb.13:5) knowing God will supply our needs but if we are not overcoming, persevering, victorious Christians then something is wrong; and what is laking is not allowing ourselves to act in Gods image and His likeness during our trials and tribulations.

Father, grant to us this day the grace to be more like You and less like us. We ask in Jesus name, amen.

In His Image: God Creates

In an attempt to understand that humanity was made in the image of God, we must have a true image of who God is. And how that image, that is given to us, should be acted upon to reflect that image. In the very first book of the Bible, God starts to reveal to us His image, His likeness, thus handing down to humanity, the blueprint of who they are to be and their responsibilities.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Gen. 1:1  (NASB)

In His image and His likeness, we have creativity. Not that we can take that which never existed and make it exist, like making a tree from thin air, but we can take that tree and make a table or a chair. We can take colors and paint a picture, arrange words to tell a story or write notes to make a song. But He gave us the greatest creative power of all when He gave us the ability to participate with Him in the creation of human life. This participation in creating life is to be done within the bonds of holy matrimony.

Yes, God is the ultimate Creator, but through the blueprint of His image and His likeness, He has passed creating life with Him, down to us (Gen. 5:3).

So the next time you are doing something creative, remember, you are participating in His image, His likeness. So do whatever it is to the very best of your ability and you will be honoring God in the highest way we can: imitating Him.

Amen.

The Traditions Of Men

                                             2 Timothy 3:1-5 

But understand this: there will be terrifying times in the last days. People will be self-centered and lovers of money, proud, haughty, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, irreligious, callous, implacable, slanderous, licentious, brutal, hating what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, as they make a pretense of religion but deny its power. Reject them.

• 1968-1970, Independent Charismatic Church, Former Denominational Pastors, all around the USA
• 1914, Assemblies of God, Former Evangelical Pastors, Hot Springs, Ar.
• 1908, Church of the Nazarene, Phineas F. Bresee, California
• 1907, Church of God (Pentecostal), Ambrose J. Tomlinson, Cleveland, Tn. 
• 1901, Pentecostal Churches, Charles Parham & John Seymour, Topeka, Ka.
• 1879, Christian Science Church, Mary Baker Eddy, Los Angeles
• 1865, Salvation Army, William Booth, London
• 1830, Mormon Church, Joseph Smith, New York
• 1827, Church of Christ, Thomas & Alexander Campbell, Kentucky.
• 1800, United Brethren Church, Philip Otterbein & Martin Boehm, Maryland
• 1739, Methodist Episcopal Church, John & Charles Wesley, England
• 1600, Congregational Church, Robert Brown, England
• 1600, Baptist Church, John Smyth, England
• 1560, Presbyterian Church, John Knox, Scotland
• 1534, Anglican/Episcopal, Henry VIII, England
• 1524, Lutheran Church, Martin Luther, Germany
• A.D. 33, Catholic Church, Jesus Christ, Jerusalem

Which man started your “tradition”?

 Who do you trust?

Think about it.

More Evangelicals Join Lent Observance

Interesting article here.

In Deed And In Truth

But whoever has this worlds goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him for if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.             I John 3:17-21 

How does the love of God abide in anyone who refuses to help his brother who is in need? The answer is simple…..it doesn’t!

God, who being love Himself, imparts this grace to love as He loves, to His children. For He created all people and we were all created in His image and His likeness. Scripture itself testifies of Him, it is,”…His will that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (II Pet. 3:9)

Why do we have such a hard time understanding this? Or do we understand it, but not act upon our understanding? We can know truth in our minds and deny it, but, if we know the truth in our hearts, isn’t it harder to deny?

This is what St. Paul described in I Cor. 5:14, as “the love of God that impels us”. God’s love is not a dormant love. It is a call to action. Love impels us to do something!

Years ago, when I fell in love with my wife, I was impelled to do something for her, with the love I felt toward her. To marry her, to commit my life to her and to make her happy. Now, I haven’t always done this perfectly, but nonetheless, it was and continues to be, what love impels me to do for her.

God’s love impels Him to do things as well. His love for us, impelled Him to send His Son to die for our redemption. Love is not just a noun, it’s also a verb!

So this is the point, to love as God loves, I must act upon the needs of the people around me. If I close my heart to those around me, what shall become of me?

Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me. And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.    Matt. 25:45-46  

The Truth Will Set You Free

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in Him,” If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered Him,” We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say,’ You will become free’ ?” Jesus answered them,” Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free.”   John 8:31-36  

We have established that truth in it’s fullness will give structure, direction, purpose and information. But in order for these to work together to establish the fullness of truth, it must be based on reality. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, one of the definitions of truth is, reality; actuality. This is what is so awesome- about God, the Bible and His Church.

God, in reality (His truth) created everything. Then through His revelation to mankind, worked through history (the Bible). And through the Church, still works through history, so that ” none may perish, but all come to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9)

A partial truth then, only partially frees. Jesus did nothing partially! Jesus Christ, fully Divine; 100% God. Jesus Christ, fully Man; 100% human. Nothing partial about that.

Jesus came to free us, not only from the eternal punishment for sin in the next life, but from the power of sin in this life! (Rom. 6:14)

 This is the freedom of which Christ speaks. Total freedom found in total obedience. Jesus warns us to remain in His word, that proves us to truly be His disciple. In doing this, the truth revealed to us, sets us free.

Free from the power of sin, and free to the power of God.

The Old Law in The New Covenant

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Of course not! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience which leads to righteousness?  Rom. 6:15-16 

St.Paul, here states the function of the law (of the Old Covenant) with grace (of the New Covenant). He starts out by asking the ridiculous question,”Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Of course not!” Without the guidelines of the law, how would we know God’s qualifications of righteousness? God didn’t design salvation for His people to be obscure, but founded upon obedience. That is what Paul goes on to say,”if you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves you are slaves of the one you obey. So that is the question. Who are we going to obey?

“According to Christian tradition, the Law is holy, spiritual, and good,(Rom. 7:12,14,16) yet still imperfect. Like a tutor(Gal 3:24) it shows what must be done, but does not of itself give the strength, the grace of the Spirit, to fulfill it. Because of sin, which it cannot remove, it remains a law of bondage. According to St.Paul, its special function is to denounce and disclose sin, which constitutes a “law of concupiscence” in the human heart.(Rom.7) However, the Law remains the first stage on the way to the kingdom. It prepares and disposes the chosen people and each Christian for conversion and faith in the Savior God. It provides a teaching which endures for ever, like the Word of God.” CCC 1963

One last thought; Paul in Ephesians 6:2, quotes one of the Ten Commandments as if it was to still be adhered to. One of those things I’ve read a thousand times, and I just came to realize.

The law is still to be followed, for it is the Word of God.