Reflecting the Image (by Carla Sunberg)

Scripture God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27 NASB) God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28 NASB) God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31 NASB) Observation Yesterday we talked about the big wedding party. Today we begin a new year and go back to the beginning of the word of God. Here we discover the creation story and specifically the creation of man; male and female. They were created in God's very own image -- they were to be a reflection of him. They were created in this way so that they could be at the big wedding party. They were created to be the very bride of G...

Scripture The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. (Revelation 22:17 NASB) Observation We come to the close John's Revelation and we find ourselves at a wedding party. The Groom, Christ, and his Bride, the Church, are united together in the new heaven and the new earth. And they are still inviting those who haven't joined in -- to join in. God is patient, He doesn't want anyone to miss out on what He has to offer. And he offers that best drink possible at the party -- and he says it's all for free. You see, He has already paid for it. You just have to come and join in. Application Today is New Year's Eve. All around the world people are throwing parties. Friends will gather together to talk, reminisce, play games -- watch games, etc. It will be a great time of simply gat...

Scripture “And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, (Revelation 18:9 NASB) standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’ (Revelation 18:10 NASB) Observation In Revelation we find reference to Babylon, the great city. I'm sure we can all imagine similar great cities around the world; New York, Moscow, London, Hong Kong, Dubai, Mexico City, Paris, etc. All of these represent dependency on human success. These are cities which have been built by human hands and often at a great price. Yet, somewhat like the Tower of Babel, we see them as symbols of "our" success. Babylon represents for us a center where we have placed all of our trust in what humanity can accomplish without the help of God. ...

Scripture And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. (Revelation 12:13 NASB) But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. (Revelation 12:14 NASB) And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. (Revelation 12:15 NASB) But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. (Revelation 12:16 NASB) So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. (Revelation 12:17 NASB) Observation Reading Revelation has never been easy fo...

Scripture When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (Revelation 5:8 NASB) When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. (Revelation 8:1 NASB) And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. (Revelation 8:4 NASB) Observation What is the connection between silence and prayer? Here in John's Revelation we find an interesting sequence of events. First of all, it appears that God, in heaven, has saved up the prayers of all the saints. The elders bowing before the Lamb are carrying the bowls which are filled with prayers. Next there comes a time when the seventh seal is broken, that it creates such a moment of overwhelming emotion, that the only response is one of silence. All o...

Scripture ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’ (Revelation 2:17 NASB) Observation Through the revelation given to John we are challenged to be overcomers in our Christian lives. Literally we are being cheered on to not give in and/or compromise with the world around us. The first generation of believers were passing away and now those who were in the Church were being challenged to keep the faith! And what was the reward of this faithfulness? Manna! Interestingly when the children of Israel no longer needed the manna from heaven, it disappeared. What did it mean that there was still some hidden manna? That the people of God, who were faithful to Him, would have their daily needs supplied. The daily bread, about which Jesus...

Scripture So they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” (John 19:15 NASB) Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her. (John 20:18 NASB) Observation I was shocked at the brazen response of the chief priests when they replied, "We have no king but Caesar." At that moment, they were not only rejecting Jesus Christ, but they were rejecting God, the Father as well. Those words go far beyond the moment in which they were spoken. It reflects humanity which has rejected God and willing to compromise with the world around them for this didn't mean that Caesar was just their earthly king. In those days there existed the Cult of Emperor worship and the Emperor, himself was considered deified. To say that you have no king but Caesar, is t...