Video: The Imago Dei in you

 When I was in college, finding "The Will of God" was the buzz phrase of the moment. It seems every few years the Church-as-a-whole cycles through a new trend-

* Like contemporary music vs. hymns

* Doing church "campuses" online

* Social justice

Now, don't misread me. None of these issues are bad- at all. Part of growth and maturation is a willingness to ask questions and wrestle with them honestly. 

So, back in the early 90s (yeah, that long ago), everyone was writing, talking, taking classes, and asking the big questions about "The Will of God." We all wanted to know it. We wanted to find it. We wanted to live it. Certainly, given the option of being "in it" or "out" of it, we wanted in... 

At some point along the way here, a wise pastor told me, “Instead of chasing the will of God simply seek God.”

Turns out, truth is relational

The Bible tells us that truth is embodied- not in facts and figures and data- in a person. Again, truth is embodied- not in facts and figures and data- in a person.

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). There it is. In red letter if you're reading it in a book. Jesus said it Himself. 

Notice that truth is found in a person (Jesus) and He is taking us to a person (the Father). For all the sermons we hear about going to a place (Heaven), the truth is that Jesus emphasized the Person that's in that place even more. 

Even in the beginning

It's always been like this. It's rooted in how things are- how things began. Even at Creation, we see that God is relational.

If you pick up a theology book like the ones I read in seminary, it will cover topics like God's Holiness, God's Justice, God's Omnipotence- and a bunch of other words that describe how powerful He is. 

I've never seen a theology book expound upon this simple (yet incredibly deep) truth, though: God is relational. (Doesn't mean they aren't out there- just means I haven't seen it, yet, OK?)

Notice what's spoke at Creation: 

“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth" (Genesis 1:26, ESV). 

God wasn’t alone in the beginning- the Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) existed in perfect relationship. Let us do it. Let them be like us!

God reveals Himself in relationships

When God reveals Himself to Moses, He actually reveals Himself through His relationships.

“I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Exodus 3:6, ESV).  

In other words, He shows His connection to people- not just to dogma or belief.

As such, when He connects people to Himself, He reconciles them to other relationships, too: 

“God sets the [lonely] in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity" (Psalm 68:6 NKJV).

“…you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God…” (Ephesians 2:19 NKJV). 

Why does it matter? 

Because you're created in His image. That means you're relational, too. You weren't created for facts & figures... or for tasks... 

You were created to connect, to relate. 

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The clip above comes from Session 06 of www.TheLadder.info