Entering into and having a certainty of a relationship with God is a GIFT from HIM. Simply and profoundly, by personal admission of our desperate need of His forgiveness through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we can begin our journey with God.
This relationship with God is inseparately embedded in a Cosmic Covenant Partnership with Him to rule and reign over the heavens and the earth with Him. In other words, we are created for a RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD as well as to WORK WITH GOD. God has a job for us to do. Made in His likeness, we are to work 6/7th’s of our time on earth as modeled by Him.
Pause for a moment and think, even meditate, on the meaning and purpose of your life in light of this reality. You are co-partners with God, helping to bring about a world that is shaped in the image and nature of who God is. You are privileged and employed by Jesus to bring the economy of God’s Kingdom realm here on earth as it is in heaven.
Our relationship with God is a GIFT, BUT to become more like Jesus we must cultivate our relationship with Him by working the work which He has designed and delegated to us in our everyday lives.
Let’s begin to explore this incredible human reality that God shares with us in His Story, the Bible, written for us.
READ:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2.8-10)
WORK in this passage is both good and bad. Paul (the author) intentionally juxtaposes this word play that often causes confusion and tension.
❓ How are we supposed to understand the reality of WORK which God both opposes and requires?
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READ:
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.
14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3.10-15)
Paul (the author) further expounds on the value of WORK in this passage and raises the bar on WORK’S eternal worth.
Our life is referred to as “Building a House”. The word “Work” is used 4 times. “Work” is the Greek word ‘Ergon’ which means business, employment, enterprise, undertaking, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind, an act, or deed.
❓ How do you think Paul envisions “Work” adding value to life?
❓ What kind of WORK does God value?
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READ:
1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. (Genesis 1.1,2)
❓ What can we learn about God, humanity, life & work from the very first two verses of the Bible?
❓ What image or images do you picture in your mind when you read these verses?
What is being communicated from the first sentences of the Bible is that EXISTENCE is NOT the creation of substance (something from nothing), but BRINGING INTO EXISTENCE ORDER FROM CHAOS TO ORGANIZE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRODUCING AND DEVELOPING POTENTIAL.
In other words, in the ancient world, something came into existence when it was SEPARATED out as a distinct entity and given a FUNCTION and given a NAME. In order for something to EXIST it must be ORDERED, FUNCTIONAL and PRODUCTIVE. This is a FUNCTION-ORIENTED ONTOLOGY.
❓ WHAT IMPLIED OVERTONES DOES THAT HAVE FOR HUMANITY?
❓ What constitutes GOOD HUMAN PRODUCTIVENESS?
❓ How does this inform us of God’s value of WORK for His Human Image Bearers?
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ASSIGNMENT:
Watch:
Genesis Video (7.43 mins)
The Covenants Video (5.46 mins)
Read throughout the week:
👉 Genesis 1-3
👉 Genesis 1 - 2.4
👉 Genesis 1.1-2
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