On the bus ride home from work today, I was sitting across from a woman who clearly did not have as good of a day as I had. Her face was scrunched up, hidden behind her hands for most of the trip from downtown Minneapolis to Apple Valley. She needed some sort of comfort; I wish that I had the strength to tell her about the prayer I had just done, asking God to give her relief from whatever was troubling her.
As a manager of people in the corporate world, I am given pretty strict guidelines when it comes to discussing my faith with others: DON'T DO IT. The anti-Nike, if you will. This puts me in direct contention with Jesus' charge to go forth and make disciples for a majority of my waking hours. I struggle with this but comply with the rules; maybe Jesus would tell me that I shouldn't be so adherent to the rules. For now, though, I attempt to share my faith without words: in my actions, in which I attempt to be as Christ-like as I can be.
Consider:
- Do you have any "external constraints" placed on your efforts to share God's word? If so, what do you do about it? If not, what are some methods that others could use to deal with those restrictions?
Grow
The Image of God
"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone-an image made by man's design and skill."
Because we are most comfortable with concepts that we can visualize, we tend to put God on our terms. (Personally, I always picture God as my first pastor-older, grey hair, a deep voice and a commanding presence.) Other examples could include a silver cross. A painting of Jesus. Even the communion wafer and wine make God into something tangible for us. And, this is fine, provided that-as Luke points out above-we remember that God is not something in a symbol that we create. God is the original creator of everything, and not someone who our minds can even begin to put an image to.
Read:
- Genesis 1:26-28 [1]
- Exodus 32:19-20 [2]
Consider:
- Genesis tells us (in several locations) that man and woman were created in God's image. What does this make you think about God's appearance?
- Why do you think Moses and God were so angry when they saw how the Israelites were treating the golden calf?
Deity in the Details
In Sunday's sermon, Pastor Mary tells us that God is at work in all facets of the world, whether we notice it or not. She challenges us to try to see God in these so-called secular areas, in places that we normally don't even look. We should even pray to God to help us see His presence outside of the walls of Bethlehem. She then challenges us to use these new ways of experiencing God in our attempts to convince others of His presence. If our typical methods of witnessing are missing the mark, maybe we need to share a different perspective.
Read:
- Psalm 139 [3]
- sermon [3]
Close
The following are the lyrics from "God Is All Around," an R&B / gospel group:
Consider the kindness of a stranger
That passes by your way
For there are ties that bind us
Together, forever
Touching the broken-hearted friend
Brings healing to the soul within
There's evidence everywhere
Of His love, sweet love
Chorus
God is all around us
Even when we feel were all alone
I can hear Him whispering my name
Telling me that I'm His own
God is all around us
Even when we feel all hope is gone
God is all around
God is all around
They're so many lessons yet to learn
And I don't know where the road will turn
He always finds a way
To guide me, remind me
That if I should fall into the night
He will be there, a shining light
For all the world to see
With open arms for you and me
Repeat Chorus
God is all around (He'll hear your prayers)
If you just reach out (He's everywhere)
God is everywhere
God is all around us
When you feel all alone
Can't you hear Him whispering your name
Telling you that you're His own
For God is all around
God is all around