It’s relationship .. not religion ..
Do you find that learning by doing is the best way?
Trish was asked to teach some classes for another teacher who was going to be in hospital. The children were originally to have cooking classes and prepare, cook, and present food. But Trish was told, "don't bother with the cooking, just teach some theory classes you've already prepared". Trish was upset, she told me: "but the children learn so much from actually doing, and they remember what they've learned because of their new accomplishment, it's always far beyond what they thought they could do! They achieve and grow by doing and then eating what they've cooked and through sharing". (Some kids have become the family "go to" person for shortbread or muffins or spaghetti bolognaise because of the lovely life skills they learned in Trish's classes).
So with Jesus. Christianity is not really a religion. Sure it's spiritual and to do with God, but it's so very relational! Jesus is so real to me. We know from recorded history that He lived and worked miracles and was crucified and then was seen alive by at least 500 people. Jesus rose from death and is alive today. Jesus, God, Son of God, Emanuel, God with us, man (made like you and me in God's image and likeness).
I've learned to give Jesus time and conversation and silence (quiet time) so that I'm present when He speaks to me, or even whispers, or gives me an encouraging (spiritual) punch on my arm or a warm hand on my shoulder.
The Bible makes it clear that the Christian church is Jesus' bride, and that each Christian is His betrothed. That is, you and I are promised to Jesus in marriage .. I find this awesome and exciting. It also makes me realise that even if I think I'm pretty small potatoes, and a bit of a mess up in many areas of life, Jesus thinks I'm wonderful enough to want to marry me! Believe me, any wonderfulness in me comes from Him!
All this implies a big degree of intimacy and that's the "in their image" connection. Even from Genesis Chapter 1 we can see intimacy within the God-head:
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light', and there was light" (Genesis 1:1-3).
The original Bible language calls God "Elohim" which is a plural word and includes Father God, the Son Jesus and Holy Spirit. In these verses Father announces the launch of all Creation. Jesus creates and is light, He brings light to the cosmos, and Holy Spirit fills it all with life and order. (The sun, moon and stars were not created until the fourth day!) Later in the Bible we learn that "God is spirit" (John 4:24) and "God is love" (1 John 4:16), but already we see a tight and inclusive fellowship.
Favourite Bible Verses
"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you" (Jesus' words in John 15:15).
Friends
No wonder Jesus wants us to be His friends, it's who He is. Not only did He bring us to Father God and ask that we be made sons and daughters and to be included in their family, their big plan is that we are also to be included in the intimacy and understanding of ruling and reigning, and being stewards of everything on the earth; participating with Jesus in His continuing, and vast, ministry here.
Friends. Beloved. Betrothed. Saved. Empowered. Healed. Us! All over the world. Millions and millions of us. He is so generous, and kind, and patient!
The word "rejoice" is often in the Bible and in those old church songs; I can see how surely it belongs there. At a big praise meeting a year or so ago we were taught the song "My Dad is the best Dad in the whole world". Well, a song in my heart is: "My friend Jesus is the best friend in the whole world .. in the whole world". That's a great comfort to me .. I don't easily make friends ..
Jesus My Friend And Saviour
Here's a true story about my friend Jesus:
For more than 20 years I had a sometimes irregular heart beat. This was called Atrial Fibrillation and dramatically increased my chance of developing a blood clot and bringing on a stroke or other awful thing. AF patients have to take blood thinners and other medications.
For many of my illnesses I go to public clinics at our city's biggest teaching hospital, Royal Perth. There I was assigned to one of Australia's top cardiologists; he's on the heart transplant team. Mostly the clinic patients like me see registrars, not the top person who oversees and reviews; a registrar is a qualified doctor who is learning the skills of a specialist and may have another three years to go before having his or her own patients. One day a registrar told me I was to have a cardioversion; they would put me under general anesthetic and apply a substantial shock to my heart (using the metal paddles you see on TV hospital shows, where they shout "clear" just before the electric jolt makes the patient's body jump about). This procedure has shown good results with people like me.
Well, my hospital booking and pre-admission instructions arrived and I followed them to the letter. I arrived at Royal Perth on time and full of confidence, I believed that prayers (many, over 20+ years!) were being answered. Soon I was prepped and ready.
It seemed very strange then, as I was being wheeled to the cardiac operating theatres, that I should feel real fear. "Jesus", I prayed under my breath, "I'm afraid, why am I suddenly so scared?" Immediately I was aware that Jesus was walking alongside, He was relaxed, smiling love at me; He didn’t speak but I knew not to be afraid, He had everything in His hands. Then I was in a reception area, nurses were bustling about and doing people's notes. I'd found a magazine and was absorbed in a great recipe, I planned to memorise it and cook it for my family. Despite my concentration I clearly heard one nurse say to another, "his INR level is 2.3", and their conversation continued.
Why I then spoke I cannot tell you, but I know that dear Holy Spirit prompted me. There were several patients there that day, and likely all of them, except me, would have INR (blood thin-ness) levels well over 2.0. I found myself saying, "is that INR level of 2.3 for me?" Yes, it was. "But my instructions clearly told me to stop taking blood thinners 5 days ago, my INR will be about 1.5 or 1.6".
"O that can't be", replied the nurse, "your instructions would never have told you to stop your medication before a cardioversion!"
Pandemonium ensued. A brand new register was told to take blood from my arm so they could test the INR. He was shaking with fear at this responsibility and I had to ask him to step away. The nurse became impatient and told me I had to have this test ..
Eventually a very nice young man appeared by my gurney and asked what was up. This was the famous heart transplant cardiac surgeon whom I was meeting for the first time. He asked for the instructions I'd been sent. "They are pinned to the calendar in our kitchen, I can bring them in later if you like". My procedure that day was cancelled; it would have been extremely dangerous to go ahead when my INR was so low, I could have been paralysed or even died. Subsequently I had a cardioversion which went well but did not fix my AF; that is a longer story, but reflects extended blessing from this incident. My AF is now healed.
My lovely cardiac doctor had me bring the erroneous instructions to the hospital. He commenced a departmental review so that in future all pre-admission instructions would be labelled and managed in an improved fail-safe manner.
So my life was saved? I believe so. Saved by Jesus, who, by His Spirit, interrupted my recipe reading and told me to speak to the nurses. So simple. No wonder He smiled at me earlier .. He was planning to make some profound good come out of a potential tragedy!
I think of Jesus as my friend, He has my back, He looks out for me all the time. Not everything in my life or our family is perfect, and I still have serious health issues, but I have lots of vitality and I'm filled and surrounded by faith and hope and love .. Grace upon grace ..
Praise Jesus ..
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https://www.psalmsofjohn.com/2014/10/in-their-image-friends.html
Amen.
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