Drew Boswell

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Steps of Grace; Genesis 1

Creation and My Mother

UnknownAs I sit in the waiting room while my mother is having surgery on her foot, I was reading through Genesis 1 in the Bible. As I read through the passage the following questions came to mind, “Why did God not just create everything in a single moment? Why spread it out over six days? Why not create the entire universe or ‘creation’ in a single instance?”

Genesis 1 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. . . And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. . . . 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven.3 And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. . . “ and so on and so forth for all six days of creation.

It could have been to show the importance of how the sky or heavens are above the earth, and therefore attach some kind of theological significance; or, to show the separation of light over darkness, etc.… But couldn’t we just discern these things from the completed creation? I think so.

I believe that God broke creation down into steps or days to show a process. He desires to move from one thing to another, from one moment to another moment. Time had never existed before creation, so His ability to show process is significant. He gives order and how elements work together in creation – but in time these elements change how they work together. In eternity there is the eternal present, and any reference to time is insignificant.

Creation Teaches Us About Relationships:

1)   Creation teaches us that every aspect of creation is important and significant. It is given its own day, or part of a day in the creation account. Each day therefore is important. Each aspect of creation is highlighted.  Man was created with a need for a woman. Creation was created with a need for something to have dominion over it. We are linked together, and each part is important.

2)   There is the development of marriage and relationships, which develop, grown, deepen, and change over time. Having been married for over fifteen years, I love my wife differently than how I loved her the day we were wed. My relationship with my mother has changed as well. She is still my mother, but how we relate to each other has changed over time. She was once my caretaker and provider, now she has moved to friend and dearly loved person that I find myself helping to care for.  Not only can you know a person (which is a great blessing), but at different stages of the relationship you experience life differently with them. We can only speculate as to what a perfect marriage would have been like, and how their love for each other would have grown deeper over time apart from sin. Or as parents and children would have grown to love each other in a perfect Eden.

3)   God would come in the cool of the day and speak with Adam and Eve. This shows that God intended for mankind (His children) to have an ever-changing relationship with Him as well. The time they would spend together would help them to love Him more, and to understand Him at a deeper level.  He has designed us to take in information over time, in segments, instead of some kind of instant download as in a Matrix movie.  In many ways the work we are to do in this life is the work of deepening relationships with others and our God.

4)   God, in this time with mankind in the cool of the day, would show them their purpose, responsibilities, and how to work for/serve God in such a way that brings Him glory. As a minister, parent, husband, friend, son, etc. I have grown in my knowledge of how to bring glory to God with my life. I am not as faithful to that knowledge as I would like to be, but it is true that God teaches you how to live for Him over time. There are even specific things that we need to learn at different stages of life.  Stages and processes allows mankind to learn, grow in depth of love for others and God, and to experience life differently.

5)   Lastly, I believe that God’s grace is shown to us in the creation account. There were seven days where everything was perfect, but it would not be very long before sin entered into the world. But the days don’t stop, the sun doesn’t stop shining, and the fish still swim in the sea. Life continues onward. Every day you get to start over. Every season you can plant again (even if the previous year was a disaster). Every year brings new opportunities to learn how to live life differently.

I am thankful for my mother, her provision, her friendship, and continuing love. I am also thankful for God’s Word and how it allows us to see life through His perspective. I am thankful for another season of life to know new people, and to experience the older ones at a different level.

 

 

 

Elements of a World Changing Life (Part Two)

III. Element #3; Me

What do we say to them?  Once we have found a person to invest our lives into, and we gave gone to share with them, what do we say? Acts 1:8 says, “you will be my witnesses . . .” A witness tells what they have seen and experienced. We share what we know of God, Christ, and Scripture.  The interesting thing about this process is that how you do this will be completely different than how someone else will do it. So that a dentist will teach of Christ differently than a stay-at-home mother (or a doctor, see the book of Luke), or a fisherman (like Peter).

The lesson you share with other people will be unique to how God has guided you on your journey with Him (like Luke or Peter). Also, if we go back to the “Go and Multiply” element, you can take your life lessons and share it four times to four different audiences – your Jerusalem, your Judea, your Samaria, and your ends of the earth. Your life experiences can be used to disciple another person four times over!

What you share is also dependent upon what the other person needs and where they need to grow. And if they are willing to be discipled, or how far they are willing to go on the journey with you.  Christ only had a few who stayed with him for the entire journey, an d if you count his trial then he had none.

So the third element is simply sharing what God has taught you so far in your journey with him – and if you wan to continue to disciple then you have a be a constant learner.

What role does the church play in this very individual discipleship process?

The church are the people who help guide you and whom you join with in this journey of following Christ’s commands and teachings.

  • We are under authority (elder/pastors)
  • We are unified in purpose (make disciples)
  • We are supportive of each other (love)
  • We are “called” to a church to make disciples.

What does all this mean for me?

Matthew 7:24-27 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. [26] And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. [27] And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it. (ESV)”

We begin with an understanding of Christ’s teachings as a foundation and then we build a framed structure (our lives) on top of it.  We begin by understanding that in this life, we are to make disciples (it is commanded by Christ); and then we add our self and personality to the teaching process.  So it is a combination of the authoritative Word of God and our life’s lessons that we use to guide another person.

If you begin to live your life (your passions, hobbies, experiences) your focus is on yourself and not God’s glory.  You will desire to pick and choose what you “feel called to do.”  Someone may say, “I don’t feel called to do foreign missions.” This is where we fit God into our schedule instead of shaping and arranging everything toward God.

We/mankind were created to bring God glory as his image bearers – to reflect Him all over the planet (Genesis 1:27-28).  So we are redeemed to continue this purpose. So for the glory of God, we make disciples so that there will be more to reflect (to bear His image) and bring Him glory.

Let’s wrap up

  1. God loves you.
  2. He has saved you (or desires to save you) because He loves you and for His glory. He loves other people as well.
  3. He has given you a command – make disciples.
  4. He will use all that you know about Him, and all of your life experiences to help another person grow closer to Him.

Have you allowed Satan to remove these key elements from the chemistry set of your life – or are you making a difference right where you are and around the world? Who are the people you are discipling? How can I help you in this journey?

 

Suggested Reading:

David Platt, Radical (Colorado Springs, Colorado; Multnomah, 2011) 87-93.

"Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts." Rick Warren

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