Marriage counselor for 25 years, and a student (undergraduate) of my own marriage for the same time, I speak with confidence when I say this. In the beginning of marriage, husbands and wives endeavor to conform their partners to meet their expectations! In time, healthy partners recognize the self-centeredness of this ‘goal’, and begin to accept one another, making adjustments as necessary.
This selfish desire to conform others to “fit” us is not limited to marriage. Parents do this with their children as well, struggling to fashion them into the persons they want them to be.
Even worse, we conform God to fit our ideals of Him. For example, if we are unable to reconcile parts of God's character, i.e., His wrath with His love, we underplay the former and overstate the latter. And if challenged with our inconsistencies, we say “Well, that’s not the kind of God I believe in,” in effect making God fit our own image.
Do you believe it is possible to really know God? A.W. Tozer says “we are made in God’s image, [and] have within us the capacity to know Him.” That's not to say it's easy! Plumbing the depths of God’s Person is not for the faint of heart! God is NOT like us—“You thought I was like you” (Ps. 50:21) but “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways My ways" (Isa. 55:8).
Through relationships God teaches us about differences, called "otherness." Just as our spouses are "other" than us, God is “Other” than us. But, thankfully, He promises He will be known (John 14:21). A great freedom will be ours when we explore the “Otherness” of God (as well as our spouses) and stop trying to make Him, and them, fit our image!
Showing posts with label bear His image. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bear His image. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Every Disciple of Jesus Should Gain ‘Weight’
Most of my adult life, I’ve had to work at maintaining my proper weight. Speaking genetically, I have ‘fat genes’ (not ‘jeans’) which cannot be indulged! But as long as I eat nutritionally I am OK.
The Word of God is rich, nourishing food for the spirit and soul—promoting a spiritual vitality. Even as a person who fails to eat right can be physically weak and ill, so those who neglect to consume the Word will be spiritually underdeveloped and anemic, consequently, failing to reflect the innate glory of the new creation.
In both Hebrew and Greek the word “glory” means to be ‘heavy’ or ‘weighty.’ If someone has a lot of authority or celebrity, we say idiomatically that person “carries a lot of weight.” They have a big reputation; they are held in high esteem, honor, and perhaps majesty (kings are more ‘glorious’, more weighty than paupers). Spiritually speaking, the more we feast on the Word, the greater we manifest this innate glory. (Don't worry about eating too much; it's impossible to gain too much of this 'weight'.)
Jesus prayed He would be glorified in His disciples. How do we glorify Jesus? We bear His image (which is in us). As others see Him, they see His glory: He is glorified. Paul says we grow in this as we “behold Jesus,” and are increasingly “transformed into [His] image from glory to glory.” (1 Cor. 3:18) The question before us is this: are you feeding your ‘fat spiritual genes?’ Are you gaining in this ‘weightiness’? Can you say: I count all things loss that I may gain Christ (Phil. 3:8)?
The Word of God is rich, nourishing food for the spirit and soul—promoting a spiritual vitality. Even as a person who fails to eat right can be physically weak and ill, so those who neglect to consume the Word will be spiritually underdeveloped and anemic, consequently, failing to reflect the innate glory of the new creation.
In both Hebrew and Greek the word “glory” means to be ‘heavy’ or ‘weighty.’ If someone has a lot of authority or celebrity, we say idiomatically that person “carries a lot of weight.” They have a big reputation; they are held in high esteem, honor, and perhaps majesty (kings are more ‘glorious’, more weighty than paupers). Spiritually speaking, the more we feast on the Word, the greater we manifest this innate glory. (Don't worry about eating too much; it's impossible to gain too much of this 'weight'.)
Jesus prayed He would be glorified in His disciples. How do we glorify Jesus? We bear His image (which is in us). As others see Him, they see His glory: He is glorified. Paul says we grow in this as we “behold Jesus,” and are increasingly “transformed into [His] image from glory to glory.” (1 Cor. 3:18) The question before us is this: are you feeding your ‘fat spiritual genes?’ Are you gaining in this ‘weightiness’? Can you say: I count all things loss that I may gain Christ (Phil. 3:8)?
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