When God tells us to be "holy" (1 Ptr 1:16, Lev 11:44), He isn't referring to "a religious aspiration or even just a moral code. Holiness is a way of 'being': a way of being 'with' God in covenant relationship, a way of being 'like' God in clean & wholesome living, a way of being God's people in the midst of an unholy & unclean world." (C.Wright)

God never intended for us to escape or seclude ourselves from the world. Rather, we are people who are holy (set apart) in order to live differently:  set apart 'from' the world's way of living & set apart 'to' live life God's way...and always in the midst of a watching world.

Because of Jesus we can be holy. And it is for His Name's sake, while relying on His strength, that we remain in the world, "to be a blessing," that none may perish! (Pss. 23:3, 106:8; Zech 4:6; John 17; Ge 12:3; 2 Ptr 3:9)

It's SOTM living, within God's grand story, of which you are a part, friends : )

God takes great delight in directing us in the way we should go.  And I am certain that the more we ask and seek God’s perspective the more we will see the very fingerprints of God in all of His wondrous creating, including the area of work, originally given to man as a blessing.

Yet, the reality of living in a fallen world is that we work in a fallen workplace.  And if we have never been taught another way, then chances are we’ve simply been mimicking the rest of the world in relation to assumptions about work, work habits, even work ethics.  God desires to not only shift our paradigm but to give our understanding of work a complete overhaul.

Thankfully the idea of work was originally written into the very fabric of humans as an intended good.  If we can allow God to peel back the sin layers that have grown around his good concept we can again begin to see and know God’s good intentions that have always surrounded the idea of work, since the beginning.

Unfortunately, this side of heaven work will never be completely redeemed, but as His people we can begin to allow God to redeem work (including the workplace) now while we also hold on to the hope of work being fully redeemed one day in the future!

What do we do with the “thorns and thistles” that are currently a part of the working world and how do we bring Kingdom Living into this opposing environment?

In God’s infinite wisdom He has been showing us throughout Scripture how to live in the midst of a corrupt generation.  He began by calling a people to Himself and as He did He called them to a holy (or set apart) kind of living.  But never simply for the sake of being different alone but so that through us the rest of the world may see and acknowledge the kind of living that God always had in mind and, in turning to Him, would find the same hope-filled living that our lives have put on display.  

God set out to re-teach a rebellious people the kind of living He intended for all of creation and He began to spell it out through the ethical kind of living He called Israel to in the OT.  God wasn’t establishing the exact laws & ordinances for all people in every age and every culture to live out until He returns.  It was the idea behind the laws & ordinances that God intended to have cross all cultures, times & places.  And it is not just A way of viewing the world but GOD’S way of viewing it that is the basis for Kingdom living.  

If there were to be a people after God’s own heart then they would see the world and everything in it as God does.  They would be a people, for instance, who do not take unfair advantage of others.  Their work ethics would not exploit or oppress another.  Their goal would not be excessive accumulation for themselves.  They would be a people who fought for fairness (in wages and work expectations).  Workers would be treated like human beings who are created in the image of God.  One thing that would mean would be an acknowledgement of the need for times of refreshing built into the working environment (for instance, a 5 day work week not 7 days, an 8 hour work day not 12, reasonable vacation time, etc.)

As God’s people we are to reflect the same kind of gracious and generous living in our work environment as God has for us.  In case we missed this holy kind of living in the OT, God spells it out for us a second time when Jesus enters the scene, and announces that the long-awaited Kingdom of God is at hand then proceeds to teach SOTM kind of living.  It is this kind of Kingdom People that God intends for us to be, in the workplace.  We are God’s representatives, displaying the very character of God to a watching world.

Everything we are and everything we do is ultimately for God, to bring Him glory and to reveal His glory to others.  As others come into close contact with us they recognize by the way we live (by the way we work) that we are not like everyone else, our work ethic belongs to Someone else, and its appealing and enticing to the point that others desire to know the Who that explains why we are so different from the rest.  

Doing all for the glory of God, includes the manner in which we work.  We put our best foot forward.   God is a thinking, planning, implementing, creating God and being created in His image we have been blessed with those same gifts.

God is also righteous, loving and just which means that He intended our thoughts, our mindset (perspective), our decisions, choice of words & actions, our treatment of others (co-workers, employers, employees, the “competition”, customer, etc) to reflect Him in that way as well.

The way we see work, the way we understand it and the attitude we have towards it matters to God.  In addition, God has placed you where He has, as His representative, who will always be prepared to give a reason for the Hope that is in you (that others around you will see because of your set apart kind of living – evident in words, deeds, attitudes, decisions, and behaviors) in your workplace.

One more thought, remember, it isn’t work that makes you who you are, and it isn’t work that fulfills or completes you.  God does those things and because of what He’s done we can take our completed, fulfilled selves into the workplace, and as we live for Him there (always by His strength and following His direction), we can bring hope to the lives around us.

"Placed on the earth, a creature among the creatures, yet a creature above all other creatures while subject to God, the human race has a God-given task...to fill the earth, subdue it, rule the rest of the creatures with the benevolent justice that reflects God's pattern of kingship, work/serve the earth and care for it. On these conditions, and with these expectations, the earth with all its resources has been entrusted to us." (C.Wright)

...and all the while, "as we are going" and as we are living out this spirit-filled life under God's reign (the kingdom living we read about in the SOTM), we are to be a blessing "to all the nations," sharing the Good News of Jesus (who offers hope and rescue, redemption and shalom) and making disciples all along the way...wow, humbling and exciting!

so, friends, what does all of this look like, practically, in our day-to-day, moment-by-moment living!

each one of us, uniquely crafted, have an equally unique part...handpicked moments for every individual from the very hands of God! Divine-Image-Bearers...each one of you treasured, loved & cared for by the Almighty...and chosen "for such a time as this!"

loving & praying for you today! : )

One of my dear friends just reminded me recently that built into the very fabric of relationships is that glorious “iron sharpening iron” dynamic.  Sharing life together really has everything to do with mutually growing, encouraging and challenging one another. 

And so, my desire has always been that together we continue to grow ever closer to our Papa God with each post, each reflection. That as we grapple with thoughts, questions and as a result we get a closer glimpse into the very character of God Himself, coming to know Him in ever-increasing measures, that we all can’t help but fall in love with the God who is over all yet chooses to be intimately known by His beloved created people. Here’s to an ever-growing sense of awe and loving worship for our almighty, merciful and loving Father God.

The creation story…there’s a lot to dwell on…for instance, “hovering” & the role of the Holy Spirit in this world, in our lives…being created in God’s very image and all that says about humankind…

I'm immediately drawn to the idea of mankind being made in the “image of God,” even more specifically, how it relates to the mandate to exercise dominion over all of creation

God begins his mass creating. There’s much to note here. We (humankind) are but a part of ALL his creating (a humbling reality all by itself). We are reminded that we are but dust. We, LIKE THE REST, are brought to life and blessed to be fruitful and multiply (something in the fullness of ALL His creation itself reveals the very glory of God).

Yet, in giving mankind life, an intimacy is also seen that exceeds that of the rest of His creation. The idea that God breathed life “into man’s nostrils” seems to point to that intimate relationship, somehow different from the rest.

And then there’s that magnificent intention by God to uniquely make man in His very own image! We could guess at length what that phrase alone may mean but if we begin to explore it alongside the creation mandate and then simply begin with what Scripture reveals of God himself it would begin to hint at God’s intended purposes for mankind. [Though, may we never forget, that in our limited finiteness our explorations here are simply only the beginning of scratching the surface of God’s almighty creative intent] And, God of course never states that being created in his image relies solely to the creation mandate, yet for brevity, it’s a great place to begin since God himself begins here when He puts the two thoughts together.

So, let’s begin with God’s intent for mankind (created in His very image) to exercise dominion over all of creation. As God’s image, what would that look like? We know from Psalm 145 that God is gracious, compassionate, good, faithful, loving, generous, and protective to “ALL HE HAS MADE.” As Wright says, “God’s characteristic act is to bless, and it is God’s constant care that ensures” that ALL THE NEEDS OF ALL CREATION are met.

We are describing the idea of a ‘servant-kingship’ (unfamiliar as it is to the "American way") from which mankind, created in God’s image, is to exercise dominion over all of creation.

“A king exists for the benefit of his people, not vice versa. The metaphor that expresses this, which was common throughout the ancient Near East and not just in Israel as a metaphor for kingly rule, was that of the shepherd. Kings were shepherds of their people. The primary responsibility of shepherds is to care for the sheep, not to exploit or abuse them. The very word ‘shepherd’ speaks of responsibility, more than of rights and powers.

If we (mankind created in God’s very own image) are to have dominion over all of God’s creation, then we are called to live in peace with them, as good shepherds and humble servants, intervening, as God’s representatives, to set things right." (p122, Wright)

To think that God would choose to create humankind to be his very tangible representatives who would live out what He intended in exercising dominion over ALL OF HIS CREATION in a way that would display His very own Servant-Kingship nature is beyond comprehension. Amazing that He would want to entrust mankind with such a great task as this. And, don’t miss the fact that the task has to do with ALL OF CREATION (mankind, animals, birds, waters, land, skies…).

Thankfully we have not been left to ourselves to achieve such a great task. God himself, who gave us this very task, has also made himself known to us as our Father and our very role model. He is also our strength and our very present help in all He himself desires to accomplish through us (His children, His people).

I’m reminded once again, God has told us that it is “not by power (our own), nor by might (again, our own), but by My Spirit says the Lord.” …and so, the Holy Spirit hovers, poised to help, always pointing to the truth, to our savior & king, and glorifying God (with that same power that raised Jesus from the dead) as He enables us to achieve God’s glorious intentions!

May we always pray for continual godly wisdom, direction and power to administer compassionate justice throughout God’s created world, as we seek first God’s kingdom, living under His reign, desiring to make God’s kingdom living known throughout this world as God is even now making all things new, as He continues to seek the lost, restore the broken, free the captives and bring hope to the hopeless! One day, very soon, ALL the old sinful things will pass away and we will finally be face-to-face with God’s righteous eternal reign! Praise God!

(haha, saw it fitting to go from “creation to creation” – beginning with creation and ending with the new creation. But please remember, that currently we live in the interim, between these two great beginnings. And it is right here & right now (at this time, in this place, and in this very moment) where God is calling US to faithfully live out His creation mandate!)

…blessed to be a blessing! love ya! : )