Tag Archives: created in God’s Image

Created to Love

Lent
April 12, 2019

Scripture Reading: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
   you are my God, I will extol you.
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
   for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 118:28-29

Why is it so hard for humans to put love first in our lives? If we accept the premise that God is love, why do we invest so much of ourselves being enticed by lesser gods? Dietrich Bonhoeffer describes it as cheap grace:

Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

 Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him. ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

We construct gods of our own making that do not require us to see ourselves for who we are in the wholeness of our potential. The richer life, fuller life is born of seeing ourselves through the eyes of our Creator and understanding who we are and whose we are in the light of God’s love.

Prayer: Creator God, as you continue to mold and make us in your image, give us the courage to live fully in your love. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Made in God’s Image

Lent
February 20, 2018

Scripture Reading: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

God said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.’ –Genesis 17:15-16

I grew up on a farm where everyone worked as soon as they were able. When I was three or four years old, I remember carrying kindling, small pieces of wood used to start a fire, in my arms next to my dad who was loaded down with large chunks of wood to burn in our wood burning stove for heat. I was placed in charge of chickens when I was five responsible for feeding them and gathering their eggs, eventually progressing to milking cows. Besides working our farm, my dad was a custom hay baler and pumped several oil wells. My mother was a deaconess in the Methodist church for several years before she married, taught school, and later became a case manager. Everyone in the family working and working hard was my life experience from birth. I envision Sarah’s life as not too different from my early life except she commanded some slaves to help and we had more modern tools. The interdependency of family life was complete.

I find it hard to identify with male chauvinist or feminists. By nature, I tend to lean toward the best person for any job doing the job. That said, I have experienced discrimination most likely due to my gender. I thus find it interesting that thousands of years ago God in making a covenant, usually referred to as the Abrahamic covenant, included both Abraham and Sarah.

The place of women in our society is much in the news because of incidents of sexual harassment coming to light. Perhaps it is time we re-learn the interdependence of all God’s children and work together to assure that all flourish in whatever capacities God enables them to serve.

Prayer: Lord, help us first to see your image in each person with whom we meet along our life’s journey and respect them for the person you created them to be. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

God Makes Us Whole

Living in the Spirit
November 24, 2017

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23

God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
–Ephesians 1:20-23

Each of God’s children is fearfully and wonderfully made. God acknowledged the goodness of each at the point of creation. Several years ago while on a tour of Scandinavia with my church choir we were invited to a mid-summer celebration in a small Swedish village. Part of the activities included various folk dances in which all were invited to participate. I was impressed by the inclusion of people with special needs whether in a wheelchair or needing guidance because they could not see. I do not recall anything like that happening at such gatherings in the USA. I was pleased to hear on the news recently the opening of a new playground made for all children.

I also read this week a very sad statement regarding women only being made whole through their relationship with a man. Men and women both are made whole through Jesus Christ. Our scripture today speaks to this source of our wholeness. Jesus calls each of us to Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48) Ours is a journey toward being like Christ who gave his very life for our redemption and promised the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide us.

God also created us male and female in God’s own image. Joining two people on this same journey in marriage can enhance growth if both work together with God on their spiritual journey, but only God can fill any voids in our wholeness. We cannot expect salvation from another human being.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for creating each person as unique as the snowflakes. Help us learn to love others just as they are and as you are shaping them to be. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.