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Reflecting Love
Sermon Summary
In this sermon, Ben Fair (Minister Creative Arts & Alpha) emphasizes that our primary purpose as humans is to reflect God's love to the world and worship Him, embodying the essence of love as designed by our Creator.
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We explored the profound truth that each of us has one primary job: to be human in the way God intended. This means reflecting God's love to the world and reflecting the world's awe and worship back to God. We began by discussing a humorous yet poignant example from the Olympics, where a simple mistake of hanging the flag upside down became a metaphor for how we often fail in our singular, most important task.
We then delved into Genesis 1, where God created humanity in His image, emphasizing that we are not accidents but intentional creations designed to reflect God's goodness. This reflection is not just a direct mirror but an angled one, meant to show God's love to the world and the world's worship back to God.
We also touched on the complex yet beautiful nature of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—highlighting how this perfect community of love serves as our model. Jesus' teachings and the writings of early church fathers like St. Augustine help us grasp this mystery, even if we can't fully understand it.
The sermon concluded with a call to self-examination: Who are we becoming? Are we aligning our lives to reflect God's love more accurately? This transformation requires intentionality, discipline, and a willingness to partner with God. As we journey through life, we must continually ask ourselves if we are becoming more like Jesus, reflecting His love and essence to the world.
Key Takeaways
1. Humanity's Singular Job: We are created to reflect God's love to the world and the world's worship back to God. This dual reflection is our primary purpose, and failing in this task is akin to the "you had one job" moments we often laugh about. Our job is to be angled mirrors, showing God's love to creation and creation's awe back to God.
2. Intentional Creation: We are not accidents but intentional creations of God, made in His image. This means we have inherent value and purpose. Understanding this can transform how we see ourselves and others, knowing that every person is a deliberate act of God's craftsmanship. [39:41]
3. The Trinity as a Model: The Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—serves as a perfect community of love. This complex yet beautiful relationship is our model for how we should live in community and love one another. Even if we can't fully understand it, we can strive to emulate this divine relationship in our lives.
4. Transformation Requires Intentionality: Becoming more like Jesus is not an accidental process. It requires discipline, intentionality, and a willingness to partner with God. This transformation is a lifelong journey, involving both forward steps and occasional setbacks, but always moving towards reflecting God's love more accurately.
5. Self-Examination: Regularly asking ourselves "Who am I becoming?" is crucial. We must evaluate whether our actions, routines, and relationships are making us more like Jesus or less. This self-examination helps us align our lives with our God-given purpose, ensuring we are fulfilling our one job effectively.
Daily Hope Devotionals
Day 1: Reflecting God's Love and Worship
Scripture:
Genesis 1:26-27
'Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/11...
Devotional:
Humanity's singular job is to reflect God's love to the world and the world's worship back to God. This dual reflection is our primary purpose, and failing in this task is akin to the "you had one job" moments we often laugh about. Our job is to be angled mirrors, showing God's love to creation and creation's awe back to God. This concept is beautifully illustrated in the metaphor of an angled mirror, which not only reflects light but also redirects it in a way that illuminates different perspectives. As we go about our daily lives, we must be conscious of how we are reflecting God's love and how we are channeling the world's worship back to Him.
Reflection:
Think of a recent interaction where you had the opportunity to reflect God's love. How did you respond, and how could you have better reflected His love in that situation?
Prayer:
Lord, help me to understand and embrace my primary purpose of reflecting Your love to the world and the world's worship back to You. Show me the areas in my life where I am failing in this task and guide me to correct them. Amen
Day 2: Intentional Creation
Scripture:
Psalms 139:13-14
'You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/11...
Devotional:
We are not accidents but intentional creations of God, made in His image. This means we have inherent value and purpose. Understanding this can transform how we see ourselves and others, knowing that every person is a deliberate act of God's craftsmanship. When we grasp that we are intentionally created, it changes our perspective on life and our interactions with others. We begin to see the divine imprint in every person we meet, recognizing their worth and purpose as reflections of God's image. This understanding calls us to treat ourselves and others with the dignity and respect that comes from being God's intentional creations.
Reflection:
Reflect on how you view yourself and others. Are there areas where you struggle to see yourself or others as intentional creations of God? How can you change your perspective to align with this truth?
Prayer:
God, remind me that I am not an accident but an intentional creation made in Your image. Help me to see my inherent value and purpose, and to treat myself and others with the dignity and respect that comes from being Your craftsmanship. Amen
Day 3: The Trinity as a Model
Scripture:
John 17:20-21
' “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/11...
Devotional:
The Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—serves as a perfect community of love. This complex yet beautiful relationship is our model for how we should live in community and love one another. Even if we can't fully understand it, we can strive to emulate this divine relationship in our lives. The Trinity exemplifies perfect unity and diversity, showing us that true community involves both individuality and togetherness. By looking to the Trinity, we learn how to love selflessly, live in harmony, and support one another in our unique roles and gifts. This divine model challenges us to build relationships that reflect the love and unity of the Trinity.
Reflection:
Consider your relationships within your community. How can you better reflect the unity and love of the Trinity in your interactions with others?
Prayer:
Holy Trinity, teach me to live in a community of love as You do. Help me to build relationships that reflect the perfect love and unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen
Day 4: Transformation Requires Intentionality
Scripture:
2 Peter 1:5-8
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/11...
Devotional:
Becoming more like Jesus is not an accidental process. It requires discipline, intentionality, and a willingness to partner with God. This transformation is a lifelong journey, involving both forward steps and occasional setbacks, but always moving towards reflecting God's love more accurately. Intentionality in our spiritual growth means setting aside time for prayer, studying Scripture, and engaging in practices that draw us closer to God. It also involves being mindful of our actions and attitudes, seeking to align them with the character of Christ. This journey of transformation is marked by a continuous effort to grow in love, grace, and truth.
Reflection:
Identify one specific area in your life where you need to be more intentional in your spiritual growth. What practical steps can you take this week to work on this area?
Prayer:
Lord, I acknowledge that becoming more like Jesus requires intentionality and discipline. Grant me the strength and commitment to pursue this transformation daily, even when it is difficult. Amen
Day 5: Self-Examination
Scripture:
Lamentations 3:40
'Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord . '
https://www.bible.com/bible/11...
Devotional:
Regularly asking ourselves "Who am I becoming?" is crucial. We must evaluate whether our actions, routines, and relationships are making us more like Jesus or less. This self-examination helps us align our lives with our God-given purpose, ensuring we are fulfilling our one job effectively. Self-examination involves taking a honest look at our lives, acknowledging areas where we fall short, and seeking God's guidance for growth. It is a practice that keeps us grounded and focused on our spiritual journey, helping us to continually realign our lives with God's will and purpose. [52:52]
Reflection:
Take a moment to reflect on your daily routines and habits. Are they helping you become more like Jesus? What changes can you make to better align your life with your God-given purpose?
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, help me to regularly ask myself, 'Who am I becoming?' Give me the insight to see whether my actions, routines, and relationships are making me more like Jesus or less. Reveal any areas that need change. Amen
Day 6: The Perfect Community of Love
Scripture:
1 John 4:8
'But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/11...
Devotional:
God exists as a perfect community of love—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This divine community is a model for us. Augustine reasoned that "the Father is the lover, the Son is the beloved, and the Holy Spirit is the very love that binds them together" [48:24]. In our relationships, we are called to emulate this divine love, committing to be present with others and seeking their good.
Reflection:
Do you have a relationship where you need to reflect God's love better?
Today, find one way to reflect God's love to someone in your life. It could be through a kind word, a helping hand, or a simple act of service.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for creating me in Your image. Help me to reflect Your love to those around me and to bring glory to You through my actions and words. Amen.
Day 7: Becoming More Like Jesus
Scripture:
Romans 12:2
'Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/11...
Devotional:
Transformation into the likeness of Jesus is a lifelong process. It requires discipline, intentionality, and the grace of God. As we journey through life, we are constantly being shaped by the influences around us. The question we must ask ourselves is, "Who am I becoming?" Are we becoming more like Jesus, reflecting His love and character, or are we being shaped by the world in ways that make us less like Him?
Reflection:
Identify one habit or routine in your life that is not helping you become more like Jesus. Replace it with a practice that draws you closer to Him, such as reading Scripture, praying, or serving others. Remember, transformation is possible, but it requires intentional effort and God's grace.
Prayer:
Lord, help us to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. Guide me to make choices that draw me closer to You and shape me into the person You designed me to be. May I become more like Jesus each day, reflecting His love and grace to the world. Amen.
