Light

As one begins the adventure of reading the Bible, the first words they will read are: 

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, ²the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. ³Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. ⁴And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. (Gen. 1)

As I was thinking of about this passage, this morning, I started to wonder about the “light.”

After the “wind” — the Spirit — moved over the void and darkness of nothingness; God’s first creation was “light.”

The light was good; and it was separated from the darkness. 

So we might be able to assume that the darkness was not good.  The darkness was what was before God made light in the world.

In Isaiah 9 we read an amazing bit of information about this light: 

² The people who walked in darkness

   have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness—

   on them light has shined. 

³ You have multiplied the nation,

   you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

   as with joy at the harvest,

   as people exult when dividing plunder…. 

⁵ For all the boots of the tramping warriors

   and all the garments rolled in blood

   shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 

⁶ For a child has been born for us,

   a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders;

   and he is named

Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

⁷ His authority shall grow continually,

   and there shall be endless peace.(Is. 9)

If this passage is referencing Jesus as “the child,”  and there are disputes about this, then we have Jesus “in the beginning" as “light” as well as the “word.”

Try to stay with me.

What my mind is playing with is that Jesus -- the light, the word -- was a ultimate revelation to the world of darkness.

Light reveal, allows us to see — perceive.  Light makes clearer.  Light shows us new, and different, possibilities.

Jesus did came to do just that.

The words Jesus used communicated this new way of seeing and being in an another wise place darkness. 

Think about all of the parables that were meant to help people understand a better way of being together.

Think about Jesus' main request:  Love  God, Love neighbor and have a servant heart.

Then he finally revealed his top secret treasure when it was time for him to return to God’s space — heaven-so-to-speak.

He left them with the Holy Spirit to keep them focused on the light, not the darkness.

12 ‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (Jn. 16) 

What does "In His Image" mean?

It says in Genesis that when God created the human creature he created them "in his image".  

Now, since we are unable to see, touch or even hear God; we cannot know what that "image" looks like or means.  

But I imagine it as a creation that is like God in heart, will and purpose.  

We are created to be like God inside the skin of what is called human.  

I imagine it means that God gave us the power/ability to be loving, compassionate and sympathetic to all that God has made.  

I do not think it means we look like God.  

It means much more!

And the best news, for this simple mind at least, is that we don't have to measure-up.  Actually we will never be perfect love.  We will always fall short of God.  

Always!

But it doesn't matter!  

                                 It doesn't matter to God!  

What matters to God is that we have the desire to live as he has made us to live.  And he has given us all we need to do just that.  

God has given us his very Spirit, to live within our skin, to enable us to be right.  I didn't say best or better, or the winner of all the silly games of proof that we are correct.  

But with his Spirit, as our companion on this earthly journey, we are who we are.  And we do our best -- whatever that means.  

That is all God ever asks!  At least that is what I believe!

God's Offer of "Grace Upon Grace"

14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth……¹⁶From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.(John 1)

Yesterday I talked about the generous character of God. 

Today I am thinking of the verse: From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.(John 1)

The Greek word for grace is: charis:  “Proof of favor; benefit, gift.” (page 1298-1307)

So if we receive grace upon grace from God’ we are “proof of (his) favor.” We benefit from God’s gracious character.
  

God’s gracious character means: “To be forgiving, to  cover, to wash away, expiation (to be restored), to be merciful, to be patient.”  That is the Greek meaning of gracious. (p. 362)

I invite you to consider the extraordinarily, amazing, all-encompassing care that God offers to even the most despicable of persons.   And that includes you and me.

The word is again generosity.  

                                  The offer of abundance.  

                                                      More than enough.

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.(John 10:10)

God’s grace is the treasure that all of us — all of us — dream of.

Unless you are completely opposite, of every other human  being, you grave 
grace — mercy, forgiveness, unconditional, loving, acceptance.

That my friends is what God, in Jesus’ skin, came to give all people.

And the sad thing is, most people don’t believe it.