Week 2 - God with us
This week in summary| Day 1 : God’s Unstoppable Approach | Genesis 1 |
| Day 2 : God with Us | Genesis 2 |
| Day 3 : What else is living with us? | Genesis 3 |
| Day 4 : Prepare | Revelation 21 |
| Day 5 : Review | Revelation 22 |
| Day 1 : God’s Unstoppable Approach | Genesis 1 |
| Day 2 : God with Us | Genesis 2 |
| Day 3 : What else is living with us? | Genesis 3 |
| Day 4 : Prepare | Revelation 21 |
| Day 5 : Review | Revelation 22 |
Every part of the cosmos God created. When he finished each piece he said “it is good.” Then God made humanity and he did something very different. God created humanity in his image. He breathed in life from his own breath. And He said “it is very good.” God created a garden for humans to live. God himself walked with humanity in the garden.
Then separation entered the picture. Humanity choose something other than what God offered. We lost our innocence and our intimacy with God. Life became hard.
God started a program to overcome the separation and bring back the intimacy with humanity. It began with God communicating through messengers sent from Heaven. Then God took a step closer speaking directly to prophets like Moses.
God demonstrated his love for humanity by rescuing a dying nation of refugees from slavery. Ever closer, He personally led them to a land where they could thrive. He took the form of a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night. During the journey God moved closer to them, He moved into their camp. He asked the people to build a special tent so he could live with them. They did. God filled the tent with his spirit.
It seemed as if God’s mantra was “closer still”
So He took human form and lived among the people going by the name Jesus. At the same time He showed them a new approach to life. It was almost like the garden again. God walked among humanity.
Just when we can’t imagine any way God could get closer than he already was walking as one of us, God astonishes us by placing his own spirit inside us. The spirit of God lives in us, cohabitating with our spirit. Intimacy is restored. Finally God is with us.
With all that separation done God gives us a picture of the end. It parallels the original intimacy from the garden but now there is a colossal heavenly city where once there was a simple garden. Instead of a mere two people there are nations and kings all living together in one city.
“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with mankind. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will there be sorrow, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And the One who is seated on the throne said, “Behold I am making all things new.”
I feel like anyway I write this article is going to undersell God. It’s God with us – the possibilities are limitless. Even that statement undersells God. So let’s look at God with us.
It’s not surprising that everything Jesus said and did was in perfect submission to the will of God. It isn’t surprising that as King, Jesus requires that we also step in line, following the same will of God. But God’s requirements are high and Jesus raises the bar. God sent a law to the people through Moses which included statements like, “do not commit adultery.” Jesus took restrictions like that and expanded to the highest standard by saying, “anyone who looks at a woman with lust, commits adultery.”
Here are some examples of Jesus’ high ethical standards. Love & pray for your enemies. Always forgive. If your enemy strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other cheek. Sell all your possessions and give to the poor, then come follow me. You cannot serve both God and money. If your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. If your hand causes you to stumble cut it off. Unless you become like a child you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Take up your cross and follow me.
Jesus’ standards are high, so are his expectations of us. That’s a good thing, a great thing in fact. Image how much better your job would be if Jesus was in charge. What about your family? Or your school?
So how can we live up to Jesus’ expectations? His standards are so high that it’s practically impossible for us to attain on our own. Jesus said if you love me you’ll obey my command. Many people try to resolve this tension by looking for loop holes and clever ways to minimize the requirements Jesus presents. But Jesus provides the means to meet his high standard.
After Jesus departed, God sent his own Spirit to live in Jesus’ followers. This was a game changing move. With help from the Holy Spirit they could accomplish what Jesus required from them. Jesus calls us into assisted obedience. He gives us the provision to accomplish God’s will. He requires righteousness from us that only He can supply. And supply he does.
I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Jesus
Prior to meeting Jesus we were on a collision course with destruction for ourselves and the people around us. Our life was headed into disaster and emptiness. We were separated from God’s will and the purpose he created us. Our values reflected a single-minded embrace of a path that leads to death.
Then something changed. We met Jesus. We began to trust Jesus. Suddenly another way of live began to form. The Spirit of God began to influence our lives and our thought. This was a positive change. We have a new voice that leads us to life.
But then we’re conflicted. We have two competing sets of values, two different approaches to life, two spirits living in one body. We became walking contradictions. Living hypocrites. We have a flesh calling us to death and a Spirit calling us to life. We have conflict.
Conflict is good. It means that there is a voice within us guiding us to life. We are no longer dominated by the path of death. So conflict is good.
Conflict is bad. It means that there is a voice within us enticing us to destruction. Do everything you can to resist that voice. Call on God. He will rescue you. This will likely be an ongoing struggle so keep calling. Each time you give in, it becomes easier and easier to resist the God of Life. The reverse is also true. Each time you call to God it gets easier and easier to resist the one who would destroy you.
“Submit yourselves to God, resist the Devil and his will flee from you.” - James
Look over the personal life vision and purpose statement that you developed during the first section inPursuit of Jesus.
Have you noticed any of these traits in the past few months?
From what you’ve learned what adjustments might you need to make?
List some of the lessons and action steps you took during the twelve lessons in section 2 inPursuit of God. What trends do you notice?
Do any of the action steps or lessons correspond with your life mission statement? How?