The circumstances in our life are always arranged by God for our benefit.  And thus they are always good even when our flesh might find them to be horrific.

Paul said, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

When we are young in the Lord, we can easily get caught up in the external, carnal circumstances of our life.  We can get carried away with happiness because we had a very successful day at work or because our favorite football team wins or for many other things which are purely products of this carnal world.

Or we might be filled with depression & despair because we’re out of work or because the person we would like to begin a relationship with has just begun one with another.  These things seem so overwhelmingly horrible that they can crowd out the Truth.

The Truth that is if one is truly working to give every area of his/her life over to the Lord, then the Lord is bringing every circumstance into your life to help you and grow you.  Your circumstances right now might be truly horrible from a natural point of view, but it will pass.  The Lord desires to be with you in this moment.  He desires to teach and grow you in the circumstances that have come to your life.

He desires that you look to Him in all things, knowing that more joy, more peace, & more love await you both in the here and now and in your very bright future.  As time passes, He might bring you the exact thing that you desire.  Or He might grow you past desires of the flesh to find a greater joy in Him and the things He has for you.  He is truly everything that you need and that your eternal spirit truly desires!  And He knows what you need, and will not forget those needs as you are a precious son of His (Luke 12:24)

As we gain more maturity in the Lord, we are able to see this process that the Lord is working out in our lives.  We begin to have a greater measure of peace in the trials and sufferings that He brings us through.

“For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:5)  (see also 1 Peter 5:1 & many other places in the epistles)

Christ was made perfect through suffering (Hebrews 2:10) and in doing so made a way for us to know God.  But the ways of the flesh must be done away with and so the Lord brings judgment to our flesh.  This is a process that is certainly always painful as long as we still count ourselves as citizens of the world together with our citizenship in His Kingdom.

But as we grow, we more and more, see that the Lord is killing off those parts of us that are of the world.  This is important so that He can make us into a new wineskin that can receive the glory that is His new wine!

We know that we have experienced hardship before in our growing process towards the Lord and although we would never have chosen to go through what we did at the time.  Looking back, we can see that we have grown mightily in the Lord.  That we know Him more intimately than we ever could have imagined before.  And that we are not just glad, but joyful for the sufferings we have endured.  Peter said it like this…

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Thus as we grow, we are able to see & examine everything that happens to us in a new light.  Did something wonderful “in the natural” happen?

We are able to take a step back and like the wise man say, “Hmmm, this seems good Lord, what are you doing by bringing this into my life?  My joy in complete in you, but I say Thanks for bringing this because it seems good.”  We are not carried away in the ecstasy of the flesh because the true joy in life is of the Lord and He never waivers.

Did something which seems terrible happen “in the natural”?

We are able to step back and say, “Hmmm, this is not what I would have chosen for today!  Lord, what is your purpose for bringing this into my life?”

We count it as a blessing that we could suffer for the Lord.  If we have given over our entire lives to Him, then isn’t He welcome to bring any discomfort if it will bring about a purified you who becomes closer than ever to Him?

It is true that sometimes the Lord brings a situation in order for you to grow in &/or assert your Kingdom authority and pray against the situation.  Certainly, He has power over all and can and does use his children in such a way.  It’s important to not only believe this is theoretically possible, but to so know your place in Him that you can step into the moment and command as a son of the Most Holy.

But there is a large portion of the church that has gotten carried away with the idea of “Authority” and look to administer that authority in every possible situation when in fact, the Lord has given them none.  He will not grant every desire of the flesh to those who say they love Him even if that desire might seem righteous to the person involved.  He desires to bring about His Glory in those who do love Him.  And He brings about circumstances in the lives of such as these to enact this change.

Even now He is raising up Sons who willingly hand over every aspect of their lives to Him.  That He can bring the fullness of His Glory into these which brings the fullness of His Kingdom to earth!

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)

You can watch the most recent series of Economic Update videos at:  1) European Debt Crises, 2) European Debt Crises 2, 3) MF Global,  4)  Gold & Silver Pt 1,  5)  Gold & Silver Pt 2,  6) Gold & Silver Pt 3, 7)  World Economic Update., World Economic Update 2, 9) The Chinese Economy, 10) Inflation or Deflation Concerns?, 11) Inflation Concerns Pt 2, 12) US Economic Update, &  13) US Economic Update 2.

One day, the best of his few horses ran away. His neighbors came by and tried to console him. He replied, “Who knows this might be a blessing?”

About a month later, his horse came back with a flock of wilder horses.   His friends came by and exclaimed, “Wow, you are so blessed to have this happen out of nowhere to make you a rich man!”

The wise man said, “Maybe, who knows?”

Years later, he had a son, who enjoyed riding horses as he grew up. One day, as he mounted a fine horse, the stallion took off running and with a quick burst bucked the young man wildly off him.  He flew through the air and crashed to the ground badly breaking his leg.

Now the old man needed his son’s help shepherding and this was certainly a dramatic and unexpected setback.  How would they get the work done needed to tend their sheep and other affairs without the young man’s help?

The wise man’s friends again came by, but this time they said, “You were right!  It wasn’t a blessing that you found all those horses, it was a curse!  What will you now do without the help of your son?”

The wise man said, “We will see, who knows, maybe it’s a blessing that he broke his leg?”

Only a few weeks later, the army came through and was conscripting every young man to service.  All the young men of the village had to go with them.  There was great sadness and weeping amongst the villagers because everyone knew that it was a bloody and senseless war being put on by the rich and powerful.  Few young men would survive.  And yet, because the old man’s son had a broken leg, the army had no use for him.  They left him behind with the old man where he was no in danger of losing his life as so many of the village’s other young men surely would!

Again, the old man’s friends came by and said, “You were right, it was a great blessing that your son broke his leg!”

Again the wise old man said, “Maybe, let’s wait and see!”

This is an ancient parable out of China that probably pre-dates the Kingdom of God’s advancement into that land (as goes on in amazing ways today).  But it’s an amazing parable that has often come to mind when sharing with others that teaches an important lesson.  On Wednesday, we’ll share a few thoughts on how this relates to your life and mine as a believer in this broken world.  You can find that post here.

You can watch the most recent series of economic update videos at:  1) European Debt Crises, 2) European Debt Crises 2, 3) MF Global,  4)  Gold & Silver Pt 1,  5)  Gold & Silver Pt 2,  6) Gold & Silver Pt 3, 7)  World Economic Update., World Economic Update 2, 9) The Chinese Economy, 10) Inflation or Deflation Concerns?, 11) Inflation Concerns Pt 2, 12) US Economic Update, &  13) US Economic Update 2.

^“Then Solomon began to build the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David.”  (2 Chronicles 3)

The original temple was built on Mt. Moriah which was the site of Araunah’s threshing floor and even more, was the site that the Lord led David to consecrate after David’s great sin of counting his own men (which was tantamount to relying on & glorying in his own strength rather than in the Lord) led to a terrible plague on the Land. (see 1 Chronicles 21)

Let’s think about this…

A threshing floor is the place where the wheat and the chaff are separated.

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:11-12)

In the above quote John prophesies the work of the Lord that goes beyond salvation.  He mentions the threshing floor where His fire burns up the chaff, so that the wheat is free to come into His barn (it doesn’t work in the metaphor, but you could also say, “to come into His Temple”).

The wheat and chaff are often thought of as different people, and certainly, the understanding could be true at times and in ways.  But in this passage John is clearly talking about the different baptisms.  The water baptism leads to salvation.  Sanctification only comes through baptism of the Spirit.  Glorification only comes through baptism by fire.  This is a process that the Lord works out in those who don’t love their lives so much that they refuse to lose them!  These are the ones who are invited into His barn/temple.  These are the ones who truly come to know Him in deep ways.  Each person who loves the Lord has both wheat and chaff in their lives.  Christ’s baptism by fire brings that life into Him as He removes the chaff!

The Temple Mount was prepared through death

The Mount of the Temple was first consecrated by David only after the Angel of the Lord killed many people in Israel through plague.  The great sin of the Lord’s chosen led to much death and destruction of what had been built up in the His people.  It was in this environment, that a new place was consecrated, the presence of God powerfully came, and the temple of the Lord was first built.

In this environment, the Temple of the Lord’s Presence is being/will be built today.

Of course, the original temple was simply a type and shadow of the true temple that was to come.

“For we are the temple of the living God.” (2 Corinthians 6:16b)

Thus, the Lord has shown us an important aspect of how He must build His temple.  The most important aspect is that mentioned above.  The death to self of those who seek the Lord above all else.  The fallen nature that rebels against God mus be dealt with.  The times fast approaching will be difficult and just as in David’s time, there will be many who literally/physically die from disaster, and there will be many more whose lives are turned completely upside down and feel as if their old lives have died. (and actually, these become perfectly prepared to give their lives completely to Him.)

Most importantly, the Temple of the Living God will be built in those who have and continue to completely die to themselves for His sake.

The Glory of the Lord is increasing on the earth.  This outpouring of His radiance is tremendous already, but has only begun.  His glory is the fragrance of death to those who are dying (including the earth, those who do not know him, and the carnal parts of those who love Him which still stand against Him.)  His glory is the fragrance of Abundant Life to those who are His.  True Life and joy and peace take hold as the ways of the world are burned away.  As Kingdom Order is established.

The Lord is building a temple where His Glory can be established.  You can stare in horror at the destruction.  Or you can offer up a sacrifice of your life to be included as He pleases.  Either way, His glory is coming!

The Lord led me to this scripture and elucidated a few things that I thought I would share with you.  I believe I will be adding more notes such as this from time to time on this blog.  It’s not at my discretion when I receive such, so they might arrive erratically, but then again, the Lord is pouring out His Spirit in this day, so perhaps they will be more frequent?  We’ll see.  Thanks for reading!

Hopefully we’ll have a new series on Economic Update Videos for you soon.  Until then, you can watch the previous economic update video series we did at: 1)  Europe Economic Update 1, 2) Europe Economic Update 2, 3) Europe Crises Explained, 4) World Economic Update, 5) US Economic Update,  6)  US Economic Update 2,  7)  US Economic Update 3,  8)  Hyperinflation Signs,  9)  Hyperinflation, Inflation, or Deflation?,  10)  Gold Update,  &  11)  Gold & Silver Update.

When God had Moses make the Tabernacle, He gave very specific instructions.  When you read through them they are incredibly boring because the details are monotonous.  But when the last detail of His instructions were complete, the Glory of the Lord fell and filled that place!

When we look at the building of the Temple, it is the same story.  When we look at the consecration of Aaron and his sons, it is the exact same story.

Even Jesus’ disciples, who were a part of Jesus’ ministry and got to be taught by Him after He rose from the dead, were clueless about what was about to happen on Shavuot (Pentecost).  But they were willing.  They were called.  And at the right time, they were filled with the glory of His Spirit!

God is preparing those who are truly His people: those who have pure hearts for Him and put Him ahead of everything else in life.  He is working out small things within their lives.  They might seem like tedious details.  It might be difficult to see how these details impact the greater purposes of God.  But these are things that must be worked out in order to bring each one into the place where he can house the Glory of God and take on His likeness.  This day is much closer than it seems!

This is Part 13 in the series Bearing the Image and Likeness of God. To use this as a growth tool to better understand your own calling, please read Pt 1, Pt 2, Pt 3, Pt 4, Pt 5, Pt 6,  Pt 7, Pt 8, Pt 9, Pt 10, Pt 11 and Pt 12.

Journaling can be a great way to get more understanding about the things God is showing you.

As we wrap up our last couple of posts from our series on God’s image and likeness, I’m going to give some practical ideas here on how to connect with God.  I’m hesitant to do this because what’s most important is what is unseen.  There are not magical practices that if you simply follow these things you will have this holy life.  I’ll give you some things I do, but it’s important to understand that there could be someone who does these things exactly…even better…than I do, but doesn’t grow to know, submit, hear, and obey like I do.  On the other hand, there can be someone who does none of these things, but has a purer heart for Him and knows, submits, hears, and obeys better than I do thus experiencing more of the true life He offers.  Two months ago at the Kingdom Symposium, I was posed the question of how to grow closer to God and I feel like I should give some ideas.

Setting aside devotional time is extremely important.  The more you grow, the more every moment of your life is time spent with God.  But no matter how much you grow, the time you spend alone and concentrating on Him is essential.

Worship, Praise, Prayer, and Listening are all important.  Hopefully semantics are not getting in the way.  I mean that you should spend time worshiping the Lord.  I love doing this to good worship music.  You should spend time praising the Lord for who He is and the many ways that He has and will bless you.  Praying is important, but listening for His voice is just as important.  Be still!  A book I recommend to help you get started is “The Art of Listening Prayer” by Seth Barnes.

This year I am doing a reading plan that covers the entire Bible in a year.   I mentioned two months ago to the group and said that I was merely doing it as a discipline and almost never hear from God in it.  Well, perhaps He didn’t like that answer because I must say that I have heard from Him on occasion in amazing ways during these times since.    I started out doing it because I want to always know the Word better, but of course, He can teach whenever He desires to.

One of the most powerful ways I’ve been taught by God is to Ask the Lord for a scripture.  In these times, a book, verse, or chapter will come to me and I will go there to see what it says.  At times, it leads to a simple revelation and at other times, I end up spending half the day and more with the Lord as He teaches me powerfully through what is there.  He gives understanding that applies to other areas, whether my own life or more recently for me, about the world at large.  I don’t actually do this often, and I feel like if I made it a regular daily exercise it would much more often be less fruitful.  As it is, it is very often fruitful.  I believe that the Lord is giving me the idea to ask Him for a scripture and that is why it yields such fruit.  Of course, He is amazing in His faithfulness and if this is a new concept to you, I beg you to try it.  I pray now that He opens up a wonderful passage for you and that you come away with not only new wisdom, but a new hunger for meeting the Lord!

I have friends that in much the same way are often led to simply open up the Bible wherever it opens and then are taught by the Lord in these spots.  Of course He can do this, but this hasn’t been something that has happened to me much, if at all.

Another important thing that I do is contemplating what those I know are hearing from the Lord (either whom I fellowship with or who put stuff out there) have said or written.  This is sometimes spoken fellowship and sometimes reading the writings or listening to the teachings of those who are moving with the Spirit in what He is doing in this hour.

The most important thing is to be prayerful throughout your day.  Do you judge the events of your day based upon your flesh and soul, or do you invite God into your day and seek His wisdom on every occurrence?  Do you look for the ways that He is moving in the circumstances and interactions in your day?  The more you tune your heart, mind, and soul to listen to God, the more you can receive from Him.  He does not force Himself on people, but is very gentle.  You must make yourself available to Him!

Journaling is really important.  I don’t do nearly enough of this.  Writing things out is really powerful for me because it forces me to slow down and bring flesh to simple ideas that He has shown me.  It has happened to me many times that I receive some understanding from the Lord, but I don’t write it down and it’s lost.  In similar situations, if I do receive this bit of understanding, and I write it down, as I’m doing so, I get more and deeper understanding.  Whether you write in a journal (best) or type out your thoughts, I encourage you to take the extra time to capture your revelation from the Lord.

This is Part 12 in the series Bearing the Image and Likeness of God. To continue with this series, click on Pt 13. To use this as a growth tool to better understand your own calling, please read Pt 1, Pt 2, Pt 3, Pt 4, Pt 5, Pt 6,  Pt 7, Pt 8, Pt 9, Pt 10 and Pt 11.

Are you diligently seeking God with a pure heart?

We continue our discussion of us being made in God’s image and likeness. It’s amazing that God can tell us what He’s going to do around the world and then we can watch and see it happen.  It’s incredibly humbling and awe inspiring to be able to hear God’s voice telling you in advance of such huge worldwide events and then see them come to pass.  But really….Knowing the big picture is not all that important unless He has made that important for you, but your life with God on the other hand is very important!

Are you seeking Him with a whole heart? Are you being taught by Him?  Are you fellowshipping with those in this same place?

Questions to ask yourself in all areas of your life: Do you really seek God fully?  Or do you just want Him at certain points and times?  You’ll probably want to even examine the ways you think you are seeking Him.  Are you really seeking Him with clean hands and a pure heart, or are you worshiping and serving in ways that actually are not what He is calling you to, but something that is satisfying something else in you entirely?  Are you using Him to get something else that you want?

In this hour, it’s important to examine all our motives.  Only you and He know what is in the depths of your heart.  And your enemy may have hidden it from you so well, that if you don’t stop and take stock, you might not even realize some of the things motivating you.

However, if you truly want to give your life completely to Him, and you do take stock in your life and continually look to give every area of your life to Him, He will reveal the areas where you need to repent (turn around) and take up His way.  He may reveal many to you at once.  Or He may first just reveal the thing you need to give over to Him first.  Later, there will be more.  It’s important that we understand that just because we sometimes hear God, this does not mean that we are living the exact life that He calls us to.  There is always more.

The flip side to this is that if you truly have a pure heart towards Him, and you seek Him diligently, you do not need to worry about missing the best that He has for you.  He brings these things about.  All we can do is desire Him, and He will make all things clear and new.

We’ll continue this topic in tomorrow’s blog post.

This is Part 11 in the series Bearing the Image and Likeness of God. To continue with this series, click on Pt 12. To use this as a growth tool to better understand your own calling, please read Pt 1, Pt 2, Pt 3, Pt 4, Pt 5, Pt 6,  Pt 7, Pt 8, Pt 9 and Pt 10.

Photo credit: zhaonameloc

"At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom."

We are continuing our blog series on the image and likeness of God. When God comes close to the earth, what happens?

“The LORD reigns,
let the nations tremble;
he sits enthroned between the cherubim,
let the earth shake.” (Psalm 99:1)

Let’s look at a few of the past moves of God…

When God made Israel His people,  He came upon Mount Sinai and invited them up.  The mountain trembled and quaked.  The people were terrified.  Only Moses could ascend the mountain and speak to God face to face.

When Jesus finished the work of conquering Sin and Death, there was darkness over the land and the earth shook!

“From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land….  51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split…  54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:45, 51, 54)

Notice any earthquakes lately?   Paul explained that creation groans waiting for the sons of God to be revealed.  This is the way of God.  He has been giving, and will continue to give more signs to us.  You must remember…

“do not fear what they fear,
and do not dread it.
The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,
he is the one you are to fear,
he is the one you are to dread,
and he will be a sanctuary;” (Isaiah 8:12b-14a)

He is your sanctuary and your rock.  No matter how bad things seem, he will provide a way for you.  Do not fear.  He loves you and is working out the best possible outcome for you.

This is Part 10 in the series Bearing the Image and Likeness of God. To continue with this series, click on Pt 11. To use this as a growth tool to better understand your own calling, please read Pt 1, Pt 2, Pt 3, Pt 4, Pt 5, Pt 6,  Pt 7, Pt 8 and Pt 9.

Photo credit: zhaonameloc

"But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God"

Continuing from our series on being made in God’s image and likeness, it’s very difficult for us to believe that these incredible times are upon us.  The people of Jesus’ day thought the same thing.  They thought, “How can anyone be greater than David?”

A time is coming greater than that of David’s, greater than Christ’s.  God’s plan was not to bring one son to glory, but to bring many sons to glory.  The most glorious thing was not that God walked the earth in the form of a man (His Son), but that He will walk the earth in the form of many sons.  Yet, just like the people of Jesus’ day, we find that idea almost impossible to grasp.  There is a spirit that is very effective at convincing us that the idea is too grand and couldn’t possibly be the plan of God…even when He has written it in His word very clearly.

We will be stripped of many things we fully believe.  For instance, when you first understand that God is raising His sons on the earth to rule, your mind might immediately begin to think that His sons will be given the presidencies of every country in the world…or maybe those who He has raised up will be handed the mega churches to lead.  But these are all ideas of a worldly perspective.  He might do some of this, but it seems more likely to me that the raised up sons will not be prominent in the world, at least in the beginning.  We look at the men of the Bible and see them as the most amazing men of their era.  But that is because we’ve been studying the Bible since we came to believe.  If you lived at that time, these men were very minor characters.  Sure, sometimes they were brought before kings…but often it was in chains.  God can do what He wants, so I do not mean to say that those who serve Him cannot be put in a prominent “worldly” role, but be prepared to abandon your worldly understanding of what God is doing.  He will turn everything upside down in this season!

“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” (2 Corinthians 1:8-11)

In this season, we will have the incredible opportunity to really rely on God for life!  To get through it, we will need to look to Him for guidance.  We will need to be in continual prayer.  At times, things may seem so chaotic that God could not possibly be around, but if you are pure of heart towards Him and earnest in your prayers, He will use these times to transform you into a mature son whom He can guide and use to bring about His purposes on the earth.

If such a glorious thing is to come about, do you think it will be a nice easy transition, or do you think there will be trembling and shaking?

This is Part 9 in the series Bearing the Image and Likeness of God. To continue with this series, click on Pt 10. To use this as a growth tool to better understand your own calling, please read Pt 1, Pt 2, Pt 3, Pt 4, Pt 5, Pt 6,  Pt 7 and Pt 8.

Photo credit: redisred

Communion: Partaking in Christ's suffering & new life

Picking up from our last post on image and likeness, there’s been a prosperity movement in the Church that says God wants everything for us that our flesh wants because Jesus suffered so we don’t have to.  This is wrong and ignorant of many parts of scripture.  It’s a fleshly/worldly way of thinking.  What about Jesus’ disciples?  Weren’t they the first to inherit this blessing of the way of Christ?  Wouldn’t they have understood very well what He was offering?  Why did all but one get martyred?  The one who didn’t was imprisoned on the island of Patmos when he wrote Revelation and called himself a “companion in the suffering.”

They say discipline builds character.  This is true!  God disciplines those He loves so that He builds in us His character.  Those called to great things in the Lord must suffer greatly as He did in order for the flesh to die and to submit the soul to God so that His spirit can reign in us.

I would encourage you to read the first 8 or so chapters of Isaiah and ask the Lord which of these ideas will apply to today.  It will give a beautiful understanding of what He is doing in this hour.

Instead, I’m going to point to the personal.  Peter is an excellent picture of many in the Church today.  In his youth, he was fired up about God.  It was fleshly enthusiasm.  He did not have any of the likeness of God in him.  When he was put to the test, he came up lacking.  He denied Christ.  He left the disciples and went fishing in shame.  Later, even after being told by God that the Gentiles should be admitted as brothers, he refused to eat with them.

However, God had chosen this life to be transformed into His likeness.  Because Peter had a special calling, it was necessary for him to endure more than others.  And through this, he grew more into God’s likeness and understanding.  Late in life, he shared with us…

“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:1-2)

And this….

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Peter well understood that God used these things to train and discipline him and all those He loves.

Let’s look at communion.  What are we doing?  We are partaking in Jesus’ body and blood.  One explanation of that symbolism is that the wine/blood represents the suffering we must follow Him into.  The bread/body represents the new life He offers us.

Judgment is coming to the world.  The nations have turned away from Him and He must discipline us to bring us back to Him.  For many it will simply be a horrific wrath of God that they cannot understand.  But for those who know Him, He will be our refuge.  This does not mean that we will not suffer, for we surely will, but when we see our circumstances as the loving hand of God, we will see how He is using these things to grow us closer to Him.  We will at times have great understanding in how He is leading us.  At times we will have to greatly endure with patience difficult things.  At other times, He will show us the way to escape the judgment that is falling around us.

This is Part 8 in the series Bearing the Image and Likeness of God. To continue with this series, click on Pt 9. To use this as a growth tool to better understand your own calling, please read Pt 1, Pt 2, Pt 3, Pt 4, Pt 5, Pt 6 and Pt 7.

Photo credit: khrawling

Got maturity?

As we continue our image and likeness discussion, God is not impressed with any position man holds on earth – as such positions we will hold in eternity will not correlate to those held on earth.  But how the hearts of each of us are focused away from the positions and prestige of this world toward the calling and direction of God for each individual life will be correlated with the position and responsibility He grants us in eternity.  (This doesn’t mean those with high earthly positions will be cast down, but it means to carry out the will of God, those in high positions must not be impressed with their position, but instead see it as a place to bear the Image of God with greater reach and responsibility while keeping their heart focused on Him.)

Jesus said:

“You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.” (John 13:13-16)

This leads to a test that requires some maturity.  You must understand and fully know that you are a Son, both King and Priest, to the Lord your God.  But at the same time, you must be fully stripped of any pride in your position.  God is not swelled with pride for who He is. He simply IS.  Your time here is a training ground for you to grow to this same maturity.  In this place, you can give of yourself in every capacity, because it does not take away from who you are.  And you will understand that if you can suffer so that someone else might be lifted up in the knowledge of God, that this is the model of Christ.

He lived His life in complete submission and obedience to His Father in Heaven and thus conquered sin and death and made a way for us.  Since Jesus was made perfect through suffering, if we are to be made perfect, what do you think that will look like?

This is Part 7 in the series Bearing the Image and Likeness of God. To continue with this series, click on Pt 8. To use this as a growth tool to better understand your own calling, please read Pt 1, Pt 2, Pt 3, Pt 4, Pt 5 and Pt 6.

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