What do you think it is that joins us together in this family of man we belong to? If you know me, you know my answer and since the only people who would actually read beyond the first sentence are those who do know me, then you have already guessed it's because God created man in His image. Man (and women of course) didn't come from monkeys, tadpoles or even some cosmic goo that melted and molded itself into a person. We are the product of a very loving and wonderful Father who lives in heaven and beholds us, His creation, with much love and tenderness. Jesus, though not created but rather begotten, while living on earth showed His disciples and friends (and enemies) what it was like to live in the image of God. If we're created in His image--if there's something of Him in you and me--how come we don't quite look the same as Jesus did when He was here? Maybe it's because Jesus was only satisfied when He was feasting on the food of heaven--doing God's will. “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work (John 4:34). I, on the other hand, tend to feast on the junk food of this world. Jesus' food was exciting, challenging and it cost Him His life. Mine dulls my senses and dims my vision of God.
We should be looking up--beholding Him who gave us life and loves us with such affection that He would give the life of His son for our ransom from sin. Do we? Sometimes. There are times when I get up to pray in the morning and all I want to do is be there in that moment for the rest of my life. There are other times when my mind is racing around like a I don't know what to offer as a simile but I can tell you my mind can move at the speed of light when a random thought blows by and catches my attention. The dullicious things of earth catch my attention and steal me away from the presence of God. I talked about this on the "BE QUIET" page but it's a subject that I'm still exploring and wondering about.
What kinds of things blow through my mind? Probably the same things that blow through yours. I'm starting to think that it's the "little" sins that catch us and steal the heavenly food we should be eating. Those "little" sins are the ones that dull our mind to the Divine King of Glory who describes us as the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8). Our dullicious appetite craves things that don't make us healthy and when our minds start dwelling on them--we are toast, gone, distracted, out of here, adios.
What's so very amazing about what I've just shared is that nearly all of us get deceived by the delusions of the dull and mundane. And the really fantastic thing is that all the time we are being such crazy people, our Father in heaven is longing for us, His pride and joy, with tender affection. Our senses, our very relationship with God, are dulled by the distractions of this world that we think are so exciting--even though they pale in light of the grandeur and glory of Christ Jesus our King and Lord. This God, this King I'm talking about is the One who...
Created us in His very own image; gave us paradise on earth and when we rejected Him gave His life so that we could once again experience heaven on earth through Christ Jesus.
Caused the Red Sea to divide in two so that the people He so much loved could escape from their enemies.
Took a wild and unruly man (Jacob) and opened heaven up to Him.
Sent an angel to talk to the Virgin Mary about her future as the mother of God.
Our God. The One who loves us so passionately, does not have favorites. What He did for others, He can do for you. Do you remember this verse from ACTS 10:34
“In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality... ." The very same God who gave Paradise to Adam and Eve; safety to millions of Israelites fleeing for their lives; opened heaven to Jacob and honored Mary so extravagantly looks at us with compassion and finds great pleasure in giving us His Kingdom. He's so amazing that when He wants to go somewhere, He's already there. When He wants to do something, it already happened because He's not bound by time as we are. When we are lost, confused, in a daze, by our dullicious appetites, He's waiting at the right spot so that when we come to our senses and take our eyes off the dull things of this world we immediately see Him and are captured by His mercy and forgiveness. And when we don't just come to our senses He's already worked out a plan that will jerk the bit in our mouths and turn our eyes toward Him. He will spare nothing when it comes to winning us back from the dull and mundane distractions of our dire existence.
I've made a decision and I'm trying to hold fast to it. I WON'T BE DULL BOB. Would you care to join me? Would you allow yourself to be overwhelmed by God? Would you pray with me: Enter, O fire of God, and burn up the thorns of my sins and ignite my inward parts and heart with the flame of your love. Enter, O my King, and destroy in me the kingdom of sin and sit upon the throne of my heart and reign in me alone...? If you can remember this little prayer and remember our huge God at the same time, when the dull comes knocking at your door, you'll ignore it completely. If you can do it, so can I because we are very much alike--fearfully and wonderfully made in the likeness of God.
By the way, if you were wondering about the Coptic Church and the icons I borrowed from them off the web, I'm not a member--I simply thought their icons told a great story.
Got thoughts about this? Need prayer? Let us know. It's our great pleasure to pray on your behalf.
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