Seasons of Life
2019Q2 – Lesson 1: The Rhythms of Life
Hi Family!
Today we start a new Adventist Reflection series on Family Seasons.
I am excited about this series because here we will have much insight into what’s God’s counsel on how to relate to one another.
But before we start, allow me to send a greetings to all of you listening from far and near.
Also, remember to come back middle of this week for our very first podcast episode on “Biblical Psychology”.
I am once more thankful for the beautiful music that one of our Adventist Reflections family members produced for us. This week’s music comes from a person very close to me who would like to be kept anonymous. She is a faithful member of the Logan Reserve Seventh Day Adventist Church in Brisbane. I know I have been blessed listening to this music, howe about you? - why don’t you leave in your comments, or send me a message on facebook or instagram about it!? ;)
Now, to our reflections… Today’s reflections are based on the story of Creation. You may find this in the first book of the Bible, the Book of Genesis, in the first few chapters.
Greek Philosopher Aristotle said that we, humans are “zoon politkon” - which translates as being political animals or social animals. This interests me, because, well, he was half right… we are indeed intended to be social, but we are by no means animals. This concept was later utilised somehow by Plato although not as directly seen. For Plato, we are humans who inspire each other in soul and mind, and for Him this was a concept that defines love… Both of these philosophers had one thing in common, and many others join their view, we are social beings, that have some level of interdependency, and who thrive better when engaging in healthier levels of relationships.
The Bible tells us that God created us in His image… male and female He created us.
What an interesting concept… God, in His amazing wisdom decided to bless us by making us different. God created us so that we could all contribute in one way or another to each other, and in doing so, give glory to His name.
I mean, it just make sense, think about it, God The Father, God The Son, and God The Holy Spirit are one God who is a relational God. Just thinking of the three persons of the God head allows us to see that God is not a God who is selfish, isolated, and who lives in a state of hermitage. Every being of the Godhead submits to the other, The Son gives account to the Father, The Holy Spirit is submits to the Son, ad YEY, they are the same one God.
They all have one purpose, yet different functions. Now, after sin, they all have one purpose in our lives, to work together for our redemption, to bring us back to being in perfect communion with Him! What an amazing God we serve!
Yes my friends, after God created all things, Genesis 3:1 tells us that God saw what He created, humankind included, and declared it all very good! This is just a great hope giver, this tells us that we have a purposeful existence, one that is not based on chance but on an intentional design.
At the core of God’s design, indeed, at the core of His creation there was a relational theme. This is a theme given to all His creation. From the fish of the ocean, to the beasts of the earth, even to the trees of the forrest which need one another to pollinate, God created all to have an interdependency with each other. Indeed, God created humankind to relate to one another.
Inspiration tells us that after God concluded created this earth, this was in perfect harmony with one another… and it was then that God declared it good. It was then, that God established what we could refer to as the crowning of a relational institution – The Sabbath!
Yes my friends, God long so much for you to relate to Him that He blessed the seventh day to make it a Holy day, to make it separate from all. A day when we can come together and rejoice from all distractions. A time when we can meet with regularity for a whole day with Him!
God knew that we would need this, God knew that our perfection of character was dependent on Him, and that our relationships with one another would thrive as we meet together to with Him for longer than any other day to remember who He is, to remember who we are, to remember our purpose, and to be recharged to related to one another in harmony.
As a family therapist there is an array of methods, systems, modalities, and exercises that we utilise to enhance relationships in the family. However, no methodology or tool will be effective unless these are based on 2 practical and essential elements to all relationships!… and I would like you to remember these as we unpack this family relations series.
Element #1 – Communication
Element #2 – Trust
You see, God maintained regular communication with His creation, it was this communication that
which provided the bases for our trust. Unfortunately, the perfect harmony that we were to have with God, was to be disrupted by communicating with the devil. The Bible says that the devil, that serpent of old named satan presented to speak to the woman, and the woman listened.
Genesis 2:4 says:
And the snake said, Death will not certainly come to you: For God sees that on the day when you take of its fruit, your eyes will be open, and you will be as gods, having knowledge of good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and a delight to the eyes, and to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit, and gave it to her husband. And their eyes were open and they were conscious that they had no clothing and they made themselves coats of leaves stitched together.
My friends, the moment we breach the trust we have towards God will be the start of the demise of our relationships. The bible says that after these events, God came and was keen to meet with Adam and Eve. He was very keen to continue relating to them in that loving relationship based on open unashamed communication and trust… but Adam and Eve were ashamed, and the hid, and our communication was never to be the same… not until we return to the God of the Bible and let Him communicate with you, and you communicated back with Him, and as you do so, you learn to depend on Him, you learn to relate to Him in a loving relationship based on trust!
This week’s Sabbath School study is based on the premise of God’s intention to change our characters. Yes my friends, God presents to you Character Building Ideas that will bring back harmony between you and Him, and between you and all with whom you relate.
I am confident that many of you listening to this podcast today are going through a hard time in your relationships… perhaps with a co-worker, with a classmate, with a professor, maybe a neighbour, or a friend, maybe even with a brother or sister at church, or even your pastor… perhaps with your son, or your daughter, or even maybe your wife or husband, or other family member…
To you, my dear Adventist Reflections family member, I say, do not give up!
Do not give up! That is what Satan wants from you, but that is not what God desires for your relationships. God has the whole of Heaven working on your behalf to re-establish your relationship with Him, and with those whom you love!
If you would like me to pray for you specifically and a relationship you have with someone in your life? Why don’t you send me a message? - contact me privately on Facebook or Instagram… and I will be delighted to join with you over this quarter and pray for you and that person you love, and the relationship you have...
As we conclude, I invite you to continue joining me in this journey of discovering biblical reflections that shows us the way to better relationships, relationships where communication thrives, and we trust abounds…
Next week we will unpack the idea of “making choices”… but for today, dwell on this verse filled with hope found in Philippians 1:6 – My Adventist Reflections family member...
“For I am certain of this very thing, that he by whom the good work was started in you will make it complete till the day of Jesus Christ”…
Amen…!
