What are we here for? As we continue our journey toward Pentecost to discover the Spirit empowering God's people to live as God's people should, this question can help shape our preparation. We using our 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed
Why are we here? I suggest we look to the formative text for the entire Christian tradition -- that we are made as Eikons (image of God). To be an Eikon means two things:
1. We represent God on earth to govern and guide.
2. We relate in love to God, to self, to others, and to the world around us.
If we are here to represent God and to relate to God, self, others, and the world, then Pentecost is the Day when God will usher us deeper into these designed realities.
Getting back to basics is one of the best things we can do today -- one of those basics is to ask why we are here.
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Scot, unlike our brothers and sisters in the faith that is Christ Jesus at the first and only Pentecost; we have a year at a time events that try to symbolize a constanant - the love of our heavenly Father and His " For God so loved the world..."
This ongoing salvation is a present and firm reality which would stand to our opposition if not for the wonders of Grace throught the cross in the heart of our God. In the reality of Love, God is not so much interested in us doing the right thing as having us interested that He is doing the right thing and from that comes " If I am lifted up, I will draw all men unto me." That my friends, is uncorruptible seed.
Where and how is this lifting up occure? Certainly in as the beginning -relationship-. Our attempts of sponteniaty in self effort always brings about the grieving which by suffering discloses another dead end, which is by Grace a new beginning, in our being conformed to the "appetite" of Christ which is to drink His Father's cup and do the works of the Father.
Lifting up Jesus Christ can be in the externals and that has it's place, but the relationship of vine and branch, liquid and cup, heart and temple, groom and bride is eternal and is done within the sap that produces the fruit that places meaning in the externals.
St. Augestine had wisdom for those who knew maturity. Love God and do as you please he said, knowing that the outcome would please God.
And for Whom? I think this is one of your most important series of posts, for the coming of the Holy Spirit is always our greatest need.
Scot,
It is refreshing to see someone step out to say that the sole purpose of man is not necessarily to worship God -- as we normally think of worship.
Now, this of course means that I believe that loving God and loving others is an act of worship. But too often this is not the understanding, and we move on to worship as a thing we do on Sunday or in some other "worship service."
There is no better worship, IMO, than to reflect clearly the glory of God through Jesus by loving God with all we have and all we are and loving others as ourselves. It is the doing of what we hear that is true worship.
As we recently were reminded...we were made to dance in the Great Eternal Dance! And we dance for God and each other....
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