Scriptural Reference:
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things
are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report; if there
be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
Philippians 4:8
"Be still,
and know that I am God..."
Psalm 46:10
Reflection:
It may come as
either a shock or a rude surprise to learn that the Catholic Church
once went around burning anyone who believed that the simple Zero, Naught
or "0" was a number. Or that there could actually be something
that represented nothing. Especially as God is in all things. To believe
and even teach that there could be something that God was not part of
was deem sheer heresy. The Catholic Church at the Council of Myassia
deemed the heresy so bad they would seek out adherents and burn them
alive.
Oddly they concept
of the zero dates back to roughly 2000 years before the birth of Jesus
the Christ. It is suggested that it was developed by an Islamic Mathematician
to represent a nil value that is neither positive or negative. Something
useful when calculating commerce. It may also be noted that the zero
is thought to have originated within the “fertile crescent” of ancient
Mesopotamia. Sumerian over 5,000 years ago. Scribes used spaces to denote
absences in number columns as early as 4,000 years ago, but the first
recorded use of a zero-like symbol dates to sometime around the third
century B.C. in ancient Babylon. Perhaaps a contrast to the earlier
train of thought. So taking both into consideration it may not be definitively
reconsiled when the first use of the now all important zero or naught
was first implemented.
So after well over
5,000 years how do we as Christians reconcile God in litterally everything
along with a zero which represents nothing? Especially in a sceptical
world that enjoys using pseudoscience to disprove the existence of God?
It was Ignatius of Loyola who first made the statement that God could
and should be found in all things. Well here are some suggested ways
to work towards seeing and feeling God in all things.
Change your thinking
about yourself and about God.
As Christians we have beccomem one with our Saviour Jesus the Christ.
He has literally joined us and become one with us. We are filled with
His love and grace. Through His presence in our lives. This is expressed
both through the teachings we should be learning and living by; as well
as the Holy Spirit that dwells in each of us. A portion of Jesus within
us. So essentially we should think about God when we think about ourselves.
We should recognise God whenever we contemplate what it is to be who
we are. Which leads us to the next point.
Regard every thought
of God as God.
When, as Christians, we are told in Philippians 4:8 to focus on wholesome
things, we are encouraged to focus on what God Himself would focus on.
We are seeing and thinking oin line with what a perfectly Holy God would.
So essentially if we find our thoughts returning to worldly cardinal
things we are denyiing the presence of God within us. We are closing
ourselves to His importance and presence in us. An aspect of who we
are that leads to the next point.
Practice believing
that God dwells in you already.
If we say we have God as Jesus within; than we need to live like we
do. If as Christians we tell people that we are filled with God's presence
and yet our lives don't reflect that we are denying Him and fooling
ourselves. As stated in previous messages a God filled and lurposed
life needs to reflect just that. Our words and our actions need to be
a living proof to the world just how important God is. Yes we need to
respect God within us. Which leDS TOP THE NEXT POINT.
Remember that God
dwells in all others, too.
Oddly there are many pantheists and spritualists who will try and say
that everyone, both Christians and no christian, has a god within. Yet
the proposition is clouded with a range of vague and sometime murky
terminology. They will express an over all view that Christians are
not the only ones to have a god in them. That everyone regardless of
their belief or lack of beliefsystem, including atheists, is a spirit
driven being. So for them the worse murder wou;ld have the same spirit
of god as someone like Mother Therrsa. Christians have heard this claim
before. For us there is no credability to it. Everyone is born with
the same empty human body shell. With a deep inner longing and desire
to connect with God. Yet a willful nayture of sin that keeps us separate
from Him. We have come to understand that when we accept Jesus the Christ
as our Lord, Redeemer and Saviour, we are filled with the very essence
and presence of God. That we no longer walk alone through the world
of darkness. We don't accept that God is in everyone. Though we do recognise
tht God is within other Christians. We also can accept and recognise
that some people have filled their inner spiritual void with an evil
substitute for God. Thgose who have done so have also purpetrated some
of the worlds most evil and heinious crimes against humanity.
So how do we reconcile
the who;le zero concept with an acceptance tht God is indeed in all
things? Things that are seen, felt, and hidden? We do so through the
experience we each have living with God as a physical and spiritual
part of our very being. We do so in the realisation that even in something
sas simple and mundane as the zero we can still find God. Ee conti nue
to seek God and to embrace Him in all that we believe, do and represent
to the world. For us Godf is like the very air we breathe. Felt and
unseen at the very same time. Which leads to our last point.
Be still and know
that I am God.
The world can be a noisy and chaotic place. We can find it hard to focus
and concentrate on things we need to do. I for one need to have a certain
level of silence or quiet to be able to write these messages. So how
do we learn to be still so that we can continue to know and acknolwedge
that God is still real and very much there. The words in the point come
from Psalm 42:10. Be still, calm your thoughts and you emotions. Know
without distraction or question that God isexactly whom He says He is.
I find it useful to at times to go to a place of solitude. A place where
I am not challenged with schedules or routines. Where I can sit quietly
and listen for the calm voice of the Holy Spirit. As she comforts me
and reminds me of God whom dwells within me. You may find a different
plave or time to meditate on the presence of God and the Word of God.
Just take time to do so as you will find the rewards will be amazing.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
You are life to me.
I recognise the presence of you,
Within me every day.
May I never forget,
The impact you can have,
To the world I live in.
Provided I always acknowledge you,
As the nost important aspect,
Of whom I am an how I live.
Amen