Reading With the People of God #13 Nicene Creed預覽

Focus of the Month: Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

A Heart for God vs. Tradition for Self

Isaiah 40:13 asks the rhetorical question, “Who directed the Spirit of the Lord, or has taught Him as His counselor?” We cannot understand the mind or purposes of God, but we must understand that He is worthy to be obeyed and revered. Jehu seemed to attempt to understand and recall the prophecies related to God’s judgment against the obsession with idolatry and oppression. Ahab and his household were far more interested in the pursuit of idols than the pursuit of God. He led in unashamed disrespect and disobedience to the One True God, and this rebellion was carried out among his relatives. In obedience to God, Jehu had to remove those who desired idolatry over worship of God.

As Jesus continually battles the Pharisees while guiding His followers, he quotes Isaiah regarding honoring God outwardly but not with the heart. He challenged the idea of inward transformation vs. outward performance. The Pharisees judged others outwardly by the acts they observed, including ceremonial washing, as a display before everyone in observance. This is not to say that we shouldn’t be conscious that others are constantly observing our actions, but our actions should come from the heart, not the other way around. Our Pastor in Residence, Tim Zentner, shared that “the Law revealed sin, but did not bring forgiveness.” Yet, this is what the Pharisees not only clung to but also taught: that the most important thing was to reveal and judge sin. Pastor Tim also pointed out that Jesus taught us to “move from performance to faith”.

The Bible teaches from the beginning to end that our hearts are the source of defilement. Our thoughts become desires, which turn into actions. This is why the Lord is so passionate about being the source of our deepest desires. We are not capable on our own. As we read today, what areas do we need to give back to God in obedience? What areas do we judge in others rather than realizing in ourselves?

Lord, You should be the desire of our hearts, for You are worthy! Forgive us for our hypocrisy and our idolatry for anything else but You. Please cause us to return to You and remain in relationship with You. Make everything we do come from a heart that is Yours, and Yours alone.

* Primer contributed by Gaylyn Mott, Musician, Yarn Artist, Member of Cornerstone Community Church