Spiritual Formation (Presence of God part 2)

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[Preface: In this entry, we will look at Jesus as our example; when Paul writes regarding Christ being formed within a believer, he is talking about the same attitudes that were present in Jesus’ incarnation.  This entry will focus on Jesus’ relationship with the Father during the incarnation.  Therefore, it will not contain a full treatment of the relationship between the Father and the Son within the Trinity.]

In the days of His flesh, He [Jesus] offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.  Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered” (Heb. 5:7-8 NASB).

Last week there was a challenge to be aware of the presence of God in every moment, with the hope of raising the awareness of His presence not only in “religious experience,” but in the ordinary and commonplace.  Within an average day’s routine, when waking from sleep, preparing for the day, commuting, working, resting, eating and everything else that happens.  Consider what David wrote regarding his daily life, that God knew his sitting and rising, his thinking, sleeping and all his activities (Ps. 139:2-3).  This could make us understand that all our life is for the Lord and not just parts of our lives.  Moreover, since the goal of Spiritual Formation is having Christ formed in us, then Jesus serves as an example for us regarding awareness of God’s presence.

    Although having a unique relationship with the Father, as quoted above Jesus still learned from his experiences.  In an episode from Luke, we see a twelve-year-old Jesus in the Temple, sitting with the teachers and possessing some incredible level of understanding. Yet that story ends with the statement that He continued to increase in wisdom (2:46-52).  I.e., He kept learning.  Whatever came with being God in human form, also came with being human.  This is something we must not miss.  What was Jesus doing in the wilderness before the temptation (Mt. 4:1-11, Mk. 1:12-13, Lk. 4:1-13)?  He was fasting in solitude, two disciplines that we’ll cover in future blogs.  The author of Hebrews writes of Jesus, “…who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (4:15 NASB).  Take note then of Jesus’ words from a few years later, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38 NASB).  Jesus learned the importance of the presence of God and then could declare that He knew the will of the One who sent Him.  Therefore, our own practicing the presence of God is vital to Christ being formed within us.

Written by Pastor Ozzy 

1995. Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. LaHabra: The Lockman Foundation.

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Spiritual Formation (Presence of God part 1)

Feel free to click the follow button here on the right and get notified ➜  when each new blog is posted.

“The presence of God is the concentration of the soul’s attention on God, remembering that He is always present” (The Practice of the Presence of God, Kindle Location 467).

            

            In a way, our modern 21^st-century American system has created a distinction between the sacred and the secular.  In other words, within reason, a person may have beliefs; however, strictly secular practices are required within our social order.  Beliefs are still allowed when they are restricted to the private life.  This dichotomy is a relatively new idea in history.  For instance, the earliest followers of Jesus were second-temple Jews, and their social life and their religion were principally one in the same.  God was a part of their everyday life.

In the pages of the Old Testament, there are examples of miraculous and unique encounters with the God of Israel.  The LORD appeared to Abram at Shechem (Gen. 12:7), also to Moses in a burning bush (Ex. 3).  Isaiah reports having seen the LORD in Solomon’s temple (Is. 6) and Ezekiel’s vision by the river Chebar (Ezek. 1) to name a few.  The narratives often express life-changing experiences, moments of calling or divine instruction.

This was the pattern in the Old Testament; however, in the pages of the New Testament, the message of God’s redemption and salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus spread beyond ethnic Israel (Acts 8 & 10).  With that movement, the Apostle Paul expressed that God was not limited to temples built by men (17:24) and more than that, God is not far off, but in Him, we live and move (17:28).

Consider your life, every moment in the presence of God.  Your mornings, afternoons, evenings and nights.  Your work, social and family times.  When you’re awake and when you’re asleep.  Reflect that God is in both your religious and secular times.  Have you been aware of His presence?  Read these words from Brother Lawrence, “[To] know God, we must think about Him often.  Once we get to know Him, we will think about Him ever more often, because where our treasure is, there also is our heart!” (The Practice of the Presence of God, Kindle Location 327).

Perhaps in the next week, challenge yourself to be aware of God’s presence as often as you can and where ever you are.

Written by Pastor Ozzy

Lawrence, Brother. 1982. The Practice of the Presence of God. New Kensington: Whitaker House.

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