Category: Christian Living

  • Showers of Mercy and Grace

    pussy willows

    Over the past few days, we have been blessed to have temperatures well above seasonal norms. Things are budding out everywhere. In protected areas, spring bulbs are blooming. Pussy willows are making a strong appearance.

    Starting today and for the next week, the forecast is rain. Normal temperatures, no frost in sight, but rain. Some days, non-stop rain, others off and on, and finally, occasional showers.

    I confess I found myself mumbling about the change when I read the forecast. As thought occurred to me, “How did you think all that new growth is going to get watered?”

    In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus used rain as a metaphor for His love and grace.

     “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48 ESV

    He pours his love and grace out even on those who hate him. The Lord doesn’t hate sinners. He loves us all and blesses us all more than we deserve. It’s simply that sin cannot be in the full presence of a holy god, so those who reject His mercy suffer the consequences.

    When the rain comes and when the sun shines, it can remind us of the vastness of His grace and mercy. It reminds us that He’s raining mercy, or in the lyrics of a popular song, there are “showers of mercy and grace, falling on every face.”

    I don’t know what storms you face today (literal or metaphorical). I don’t know whether you have sun, rain, or snow in your forecast. I do know that God loves you and wants to bless you.

    If you know Him already, rejoice that He cared enough to save you. If you don’t yet know Him, set aside your pride and run to His open arms.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    ___________________________________________ 

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  • Reflections on the image of God

    evergreen trees reflected in a puddle

    A simple photograph of an evergreen tree reflecting in a puddle. There’s nothing unusual about it. You can’t see the tree itself, but you know it’s there and what it looks like.

    Even if someone walks through the puddle, you’ll still see the reflection; it won’t be as clear, but it will be there.  That’s the nature of reflections.

    In a way, the bible talks about reflections. It uses the word image.

    “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…’
    So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”     Genesis 1:26-27

    We are created “imago Dei” in the image of God. Our lives reflect Him. All people carry that image to some degree, even if it sonly hows the absence of God in their lives. He is still magnified because the absence of God in some lives shows the difference of having Him in someone’s life.

    Every person’s life has value because it is in the image of God, that is, ontological dignity.

    We are designed to be in relationship with God and others. His image gives us relational capacity.

    Since we represent God, we are to show His character. That is our moral vocation.

    As image bearers, we are given dominion to manage, not exploit the resources He gave us (or every type). We have representative dominion – we act as His ambassadors and stewards.

    Believers have a calling to better representation since we have been saved and Holy Spirit dwells in us.

    Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Colossians 3:5-10

    What kind of an image are you reflecting. If people watched the puddle of your life, would the tree be seen more clearly over time? Would God be magnified even more by the way you represent Him, and compared to Jesus over time?

    May the imago Dei be ever more clear in you. May you bring Him more glory day by day.

    Be blessed

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