we don’t know what tomorrow holds - or next week - or this next year. but we know that when we are in HIS hands, HE does lead, and HE will guide each step if we will let HIM. JESUS said, “I will not leave you alone. I will send you the COMFORTER, the HOLY SPIRIT, to guide you into all truth.”
so we have GOD’s SPIRIT to lead us day by day, dwelling within us - on the throne of our lives - leading and directing and guiding each step. even so, wise men of every generation have been DIVINEly led, listening to and heeding the word of GOD day by day.
but let us look to the wise men as they were preparing to leave their homes and follow the star.
can you just imagine how their neighbors reacted? “oh, are you going on a journey?” “yes, we are.” “where are you going?” “we don’t know.” “well, how long are you going to be gone?” “we don’t know.”
“what are you going to do when you get there, wherever it is?” “we are going to worship the KING.” “what KING?” “we don’t know.” “why are you going?” “we are going because we have read the scriptures, and we have seen a star in the sky, and we have a strange stirring within our hearts to go.”
i imagine those neighbors shook their heads and said, “and we call you, ‘wise men’? how foolish to take off on a journey, not knowing where you are going, or what you are going to find when you get there, or how long you are going to be gone.”
yet, the journey of faith always has those characteristics.
just a thought from the front porch as we look toward the new year…
Showing posts with label HOLY SPIRIT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HOLY SPIRIT. Show all posts
Monday, December 27, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
made in HIS image…
beginning in genesis 1.26 there’s some simple verses on how you and i reflect GOD’s glory and make a difference in this world. (niv), GOD said, “let US make man.” those first couple words gets you. let US. let US make man. many of you have a question about that. let US make man in OUR image.
in the first chapter of the bible we get a glimpse into the trinity – the FATHER, the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT were all involved in GOD’s creation. the FATHER GOD is obviously involved. HE’s all through it. it tells us at the beginning of the book of genesis that the SPIRIT of GOD was moving over the waters, the surface of the earth. the new testament tells us in colossians and other places that JESUS was the creative force, the power that GOD used to create this world. they were all a part of creation. so when you and i worship JESUS as our SAVIOR, we’re also worshiping our creator. we realize the HOLY SPIRIT has come into our lives to fill us and empower us day by day is the same SPIRIT that created us, created this world.
let US make man in OUR image. GOD didn’t say that about water. HE didn’t say that about plants. HE didn’t say it even about animals. only about man did HE say, let US make man in OUR image.
now one key in this passage to understanding our place in GOD’s creation is that we were created to reflect GOD’s image. that’s what you and i were made for – to reflect GOD’s image. the first thing said about us in all the bible is let US make man in OUR image. and it’s might be the most amazing thing that’s said. let US make man in OUR image, in OUR likeness.
now what’s the difference between image and likeness? image has the idea of a shadow that’s cast. likeness has the idea of something that you see, a reflection that you see. if you think about it, what GOD’s saying here is image is the impression that’s made, likeness is the impression that’s seen. it’s like if i put a stamp on a letter. when i make that impression i can see it. when i send it to somebody else, they can see it. HE wants both in our lives. HE wants to put HIS image into our lives. HE did it from the beginning and HE wants to do it now. HE also wants to show HIS image to the world. so HE’s created us in HIS image, in HIS likeness.
starting with the last part of verse 27 (niv), male and female, HE created them. and GOD blessed them and said to them, “be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth and subdue it.” some people have said that’s the only command of GOD that mankind has ever really fulfilled. “rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” we were created to reflect GOD’s image.
just a thought from the front porch…
in the first chapter of the bible we get a glimpse into the trinity – the FATHER, the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT were all involved in GOD’s creation. the FATHER GOD is obviously involved. HE’s all through it. it tells us at the beginning of the book of genesis that the SPIRIT of GOD was moving over the waters, the surface of the earth. the new testament tells us in colossians and other places that JESUS was the creative force, the power that GOD used to create this world. they were all a part of creation. so when you and i worship JESUS as our SAVIOR, we’re also worshiping our creator. we realize the HOLY SPIRIT has come into our lives to fill us and empower us day by day is the same SPIRIT that created us, created this world.
let US make man in OUR image. GOD didn’t say that about water. HE didn’t say that about plants. HE didn’t say it even about animals. only about man did HE say, let US make man in OUR image.
now one key in this passage to understanding our place in GOD’s creation is that we were created to reflect GOD’s image. that’s what you and i were made for – to reflect GOD’s image. the first thing said about us in all the bible is let US make man in OUR image. and it’s might be the most amazing thing that’s said. let US make man in OUR image, in OUR likeness.
now what’s the difference between image and likeness? image has the idea of a shadow that’s cast. likeness has the idea of something that you see, a reflection that you see. if you think about it, what GOD’s saying here is image is the impression that’s made, likeness is the impression that’s seen. it’s like if i put a stamp on a letter. when i make that impression i can see it. when i send it to somebody else, they can see it. HE wants both in our lives. HE wants to put HIS image into our lives. HE did it from the beginning and HE wants to do it now. HE also wants to show HIS image to the world. so HE’s created us in HIS image, in HIS likeness.
starting with the last part of verse 27 (niv), male and female, HE created them. and GOD blessed them and said to them, “be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth and subdue it.” some people have said that’s the only command of GOD that mankind has ever really fulfilled. “rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” we were created to reflect GOD’s image.
just a thought from the front porch…
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