But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”
Genesis 3:9
But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:22-24
Facing this day: Our heavenly Father waits for us to return home.
Scot McKnight counsels, “It is so easy to get lost in our plans, in our hopes, in our worries, and in our busyness. What we need is to come to our senses. We need to pull off the road and ask ourselves, ‘What are we here for?’ That is a question worth answering, and it is answered with utter clarity when we realize who we are. We are eikons, designed by God to live the Jesus Creed.” (p 32)
This week pay attention to how often the Jesus Creed comes to maid each day. Once, twice, five times? Remember to repeat it when it comes to mind. Is it finding its way deeper and deeper into you?
Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}
Have you ever considered that you are created to be a person who “perfectly expresses what God created an eikon to do”? (p 31)
So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27
And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18
Facing this day: You are an eikon made to love God, love yourself, love others, and love the world.
After this first week reading Scot McKnight’s 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed, what stands out to you the most? Does it draw you to more deeply experience God’s love and to share that love?
Spend some time this weekend considering the Jesus Creed and God’s love for you.
“The mutual love of the Father, Son, and Spirit form the pattern for the Jesus Creed. The Jesus Creed summons each of us to dance the dance of the Trinity.” (p 27)
What do you think of McKnight’s use of the imagery of “divine dance” to speak of the mutual love and “mutual indwelling” of the Father, and Son, and Spirit”?
“Love isn’t something we produce. Love, like dancing, is surrendering to the music on the divine dance floor. We may need to remind ourselves … “God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God and God abides in them (1 John 4:16).” (p 28)
Is it freeing or frightening to consider that love is surrendering?
The Father and I are one. Believe [my] works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.
John 10:30, 38
Scriptural Focus: But if I do [these good words] even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
John 10:38
Facing this day: Join the dance of God today.
“The Jesus Creed begins in the face of God, for until we see in the face of God the love God has for us, we will not find the strength to love God, to love ourselves, or to love others. This love begins in the face of God.” (p 22)
Can you see it?