“So what?”

Reformers: We’ve learned that God has some traits we can’t have and other traits He imparts to us. This week our focus is “What should we be like?”
Another week we learn what should the world should like (God’s form to reflect His image).

Wednesday night, after watching a video of Patti Amsden teach chapter 1 from her book, I asked the youth and young adult Reformers Group this question: “So what?” OK, so there are things we cannot share with God but also traits He desires us to share with him in order to bear his likeness and image. What difference does that make to me? They shared the following:

“I can praise Him more.” “I can better represent him to others.” “I'm overwhelmed with Him and don't know how to express how I feel.” “I just want to swallow, digest, receive more of Him.” “It makes me know I'm never alone. No one is alone because God is always present.” “Everything is inter-related like “the butterfly effect” (a butterfly’s wings affects wind currents far away especially as combined with other effects). So I realized that everything matters and everything has a purpose. Therefore I will see and treat others differently because they matter.” “I can trust him. He never changes. He's always good and I can have more faith in God because his word is true.”

A Good Worldview begins with good thoughts about God - theology Matters! Once we answer questions like how things began and why we here we can apply a good theology to what we should be like and do. Then we apply good “God-thoughts” to what the world should be like. The result will be a clearer idea of what went wrong and what God wants us to do about it—be reformers!

God is not willing that any should perish. 2 Pet 3:9. God wants all men to be saved. 1 Timothy 2:4. The shepherd sought lost sheep; the woman sought the lost coin; the Father welcomed his lost son (Luke 15) all shared in great JOY. Those who go forth bearing precious seed shall come again rejoicing bringing their sheaves with them. (Ps 126)

-PD

Reformers Series of Messages

Last week-How are we not like God? (His unshared traits)
Next week-How are we God’s image and likeness? (form)
This week-How can we can be like God? (godliness-traits God imparts to us—shares)

A swan is not a duck is not a goose

There is a children’s tale of a baby swan separated from it’s mother at birth. The swan tries to fit in with all kinds of other birds and animals but is quite ugly and never finds it’s image or identity, until finally it is maturing into a beautiful white swan then finds another swan and realizes who it was created to be. All this time it has been “becoming who it already was” but did not know the “form or likeness” it was meant to have. How is our spiritual life like the baby swan?

Reformation is from inside out-begins with me in His image
Peter describes this process of getting to know God better, then He shares Himself with us.
2 Peter 1:2-8

Share (koinos - fellowship and in common) in Divine Nature by grace knowing Him (NT:1922 epignosis—implies progressive experience producing change.
(note God’s part in this and our part-what we do)

2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5For this very reason, make every effort to supplement [add to] your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

To grow in grace and Godly love keep the five challenges: 1. read/meditate in God’s Word, 2. daily prayer/enjoy God’s presence, 3. fellowship and relationships in small group, 4. serve Christ’s body as member 5. co-mission with Christ in world.

2011 Year of Tending: focus, faithfulness, fruit

Gal. 6:9 “Let us not lose heart (be weary) of doing good, for in due time (kairos) we shall reap if we do not grow weary.” Chronos is chronological and general time which can lead us into an opportune or strategic time (kairos). This season of your life may be tedious-a time of plowing, standing, believing and persistent praying. If you press on, doing what is necessary in these general times the process will shift into a kairos season of reaping.