Excellent stuff Brandon. Engaging in a real, intimate, vulnerable, sacrificial love relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the only way. We can't just read about them or do stuff for them. We have to know them and be honest with them.
Meditating or studying God is a pale comparison to knowing Him and speaking with Him and listening to what He says to us.
Thanks, sir! Yes, one without the other gets us all out of whack and unfortunately it’s far too easy to simply turn the Trinity into a task or study topic void of relational intimacy. Thanks for the encouragement!
You’re exactly right, we must be face to face with our Lord, love the 2 Cor 3:18 verse, but I especially like 2 Cor 4:6:
“For it is the God who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels…”
The love of the Father and the Son, face to face, in our hearts, is the Holy Spirit. The indwelling of the Trinity is a treasure, and it’s a delight to spend time in their presence!
I'm just a bit confused as to where in the Bible it says we need to be like Jesus? Jesus was God, if we're trying to be like God I don't see that leading in a good direction...serpents, gardens, all that. I think we have quite a few directions as to how we should be, but I don't explictly remember being like Jesus, being one of them. If it IS in the Bible, can you point me to it, because I honestly must have skipped that bit.
Hey Helen, that's a great question. There are a few passages I'd refer you to:
Romans 8:29 - That God predestined us to be like His Son.
Ephesians 4:1-16 - Gives the implication that the leadership of the church has the job of helping people become mature in Christ-Likeness.
Philippians 3:8-21 - Paul talks about his desire to be like Christ (even if it means death) and that it should be our goal to strive after that in this life because it's what will be true of us in the next life.
There are more but those were three that came to mind as I was responding. I think the problem is the way we try to be like God.
Adam and Eve tried to be like God by having access to all knowledge of good and evil.
Satan tried to be like God by having the control and authority of God.
We tend to try to be like God by having control and autonomy over our lives.
Paul and the rest of the New Testament writers are advocating for becoming like Jesus by submitting to the Father and relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance, power, and transformation.
Excellent stuff Brandon. Engaging in a real, intimate, vulnerable, sacrificial love relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the only way. We can't just read about them or do stuff for them. We have to know them and be honest with them.
Meditating or studying God is a pale comparison to knowing Him and speaking with Him and listening to what He says to us.
Thanks, sir! Yes, one without the other gets us all out of whack and unfortunately it’s far too easy to simply turn the Trinity into a task or study topic void of relational intimacy. Thanks for the encouragement!
You’re exactly right, we must be face to face with our Lord, love the 2 Cor 3:18 verse, but I especially like 2 Cor 4:6:
“For it is the God who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels…”
The love of the Father and the Son, face to face, in our hearts, is the Holy Spirit. The indwelling of the Trinity is a treasure, and it’s a delight to spend time in their presence!
Love this. What an incredible reality for those of us in Christ!
I'm just a bit confused as to where in the Bible it says we need to be like Jesus? Jesus was God, if we're trying to be like God I don't see that leading in a good direction...serpents, gardens, all that. I think we have quite a few directions as to how we should be, but I don't explictly remember being like Jesus, being one of them. If it IS in the Bible, can you point me to it, because I honestly must have skipped that bit.
Hey Helen, that's a great question. There are a few passages I'd refer you to:
Romans 8:29 - That God predestined us to be like His Son.
Ephesians 4:1-16 - Gives the implication that the leadership of the church has the job of helping people become mature in Christ-Likeness.
Philippians 3:8-21 - Paul talks about his desire to be like Christ (even if it means death) and that it should be our goal to strive after that in this life because it's what will be true of us in the next life.
There are more but those were three that came to mind as I was responding. I think the problem is the way we try to be like God.
Adam and Eve tried to be like God by having access to all knowledge of good and evil.
Satan tried to be like God by having the control and authority of God.
We tend to try to be like God by having control and autonomy over our lives.
Paul and the rest of the New Testament writers are advocating for becoming like Jesus by submitting to the Father and relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance, power, and transformation.
Hope that clarifies some things!
Just ordered your book, Brandon! Congratulations! I can’t wait to read it! Kudos! Print copy for sure! Nothing better than holding a book in my hands!
Thanks, John! I appreciate your support. And I agree, I love a good physical copy of a book!