WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.339 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:10.519 ! Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us. 00:00:11.960 --> 00:00:25.800 I am really excited not only to get to talk with these little ones, but that this fall we are going to walk through some old stories that will be familiar to many of you. 00:00:25.800 --> 00:00:36.020 It is not just kids who love these stories, okay? I did not make you raise your hand for David and Goliath, but a lot of you, you love those stories too. 00:00:36.899 --> 00:00:45.480 I want us to understand them in their own right, to love the stories for what they are and for what they mean themselves. 00:00:45.620 --> 00:00:51.500 That is part of looking at it. There is a reason these stories are so beloved and we want to enjoy them together. 00:00:51.500 --> 00:01:02.620 As well as I want us to follow through the Old Testament, God's unfolding story, the bigger story that these little stories are a part of. 00:01:02.799 --> 00:01:13.799 It's the story that introduces us to God Himself and that eventually leads us to a manger and a cross and an empty tomb. 00:01:13.799 --> 00:01:26.420 And it's got a great ending. Some of our youth, some of our women are also tracking along this Old Testament story this fall, so that will be fun to do together. 00:01:26.799 --> 00:01:35.599 Many of us have been reading this chronological story all year and even though we're halfway through the calendar year, we're still in the Old Testament. 00:01:35.599 --> 00:01:42.359 Yes, if you've ever read the Bible in a year, most of your year is spent in the Old Testament and you're still in the prophets now. 00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:53.759 But now, all of us together get to look at 15 or 16 key stories through the Old Testament that make up that big story. 00:01:54.179 --> 00:01:58.879 Characters like David and Ruth, Moses and Esther. 00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:06.799 And one of the things you're going to notice over and over is the nature of the God writing this story. 00:02:07.659 --> 00:02:13.840 He is a God who rescues and restores over and over. 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:23.319 I hope it becomes, as we look at it, increasingly beautiful, increasingly inspiring to you who He is. 00:02:23.319 --> 00:02:33.319 But these first two weeks, these first two stories, we're going to find out what He's rescuing and restoring. 00:02:33.579 --> 00:02:35.379 We've got to have something there first, right? 00:02:35.719 --> 00:02:40.039 And why it needs to be rescued and restored. 00:02:40.900 --> 00:02:48.819 So the answer to that, to what God rescues and restores, we'll see today, is relationship. 00:02:48.819 --> 00:02:57.180 In fact, the reason we exist is relationship. 00:02:58.259 --> 00:03:00.979 That may sound to you like a big claim. 00:03:01.819 --> 00:03:03.000 I mean it to me. 00:03:03.519 --> 00:03:09.259 You don't say things like the reason we exist unless you mean to be making a big claim. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:11.199 Why are we here? 00:03:11.719 --> 00:03:13.979 What is our raison d'etre? 00:03:14.699 --> 00:03:16.519 Our reason for being? 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:18.880 Being philosophers have asked that for centuries. 00:03:19.780 --> 00:03:25.040 What gives us real purpose, value, meaning in life? 00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:27.560 What truly fulfills us? 00:03:27.620 --> 00:03:29.260 We all want to know that, don't we? 00:03:31.040 --> 00:03:33.080 So does Scotty Scheffler. 00:03:33.879 --> 00:03:38.160 Scotty Scheffler is the greatest golfer in the world right now. 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:45.900 I'm sure many of you heard Scotty's response recently to a question about winning and losing 00:03:45.900 --> 00:03:47.180 in golf. 00:03:48.039 --> 00:03:52.379 He said that he had won a recent tournament and now, I quote, 00:03:53.159 --> 00:03:59.460 I literally worked my entire life to become good at golf, to have an opportunity to win 00:03:59.460 --> 00:04:00.280 that tournament. 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:01.719 And you win it. 00:04:02.019 --> 00:04:02.900 You celebrate. 00:04:03.340 --> 00:04:04.659 You get to hug your family. 00:04:04.780 --> 00:04:05.859 My sister's there. 00:04:05.860 --> 00:04:07.600 It's such an amazing moment. 00:04:08.680 --> 00:04:12.560 And then it's like, okay, now what are we going to eat for dinner? 00:04:14.600 --> 00:04:19.840 To become good at the sport and to have that kind of sense of accomplishment is a pretty cool 00:04:19.840 --> 00:04:20.980 feeling, he said. 00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:24.240 You know, to get to live out your dreams is very special. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:30.600 But at the end of the day, it's like I'm not out here to inspire the next generation of golfers. 00:04:30.759 --> 00:04:35.300 I'm not here to inspire somebody else to be the best player in the world. 00:04:35.500 --> 00:04:36.840 Because what's the point? 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:39.540 This is not a fulfilling life. 00:04:40.840 --> 00:04:46.040 It's fulfilling from a sense of accomplishment, but it's not fulfilling from a sense of the deepest 00:04:46.040 --> 00:04:47.600 places of your heart. 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:52.900 There's a lot of people that make it to what they thought was going to fulfill them in life. 00:04:53.260 --> 00:04:57.180 And then you get there, then all of a sudden you get to number one in the world and they're like, 00:04:57.500 --> 00:04:58.280 what's the point? 00:04:59.500 --> 00:05:01.840 I love being able to play this game for a living. 00:05:01.960 --> 00:05:03.800 It's one of the greatest joys of my life. 00:05:03.980 --> 00:05:07.200 But does it fill the deepest wants and desires of my heart? 00:05:07.379 --> 00:05:08.300 Absolutely not. 00:05:09.140 --> 00:05:12.439 It just doesn't satisfy is how I would describe it. 00:05:13.060 --> 00:05:15.000 It's an unsatisfying venture. 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:21.139 I guess what I'm trying to say is this is not the place to look for your satisfaction. 00:05:21.639 --> 00:05:25.800 At the end of the day, it's just not what satisfies me. 00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:28.579 He said all that off the cuff. 00:05:29.319 --> 00:05:31.459 That's pretty profound, right? 00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:41.500 I mean, if the best golfer in the world is not sure that his great purpose is to play the game of golf, 00:05:41.500 --> 00:05:47.660 if he doesn't find his reason for existence there, why are we here? 00:05:49.560 --> 00:05:54.480 From what I've heard Scotty say elsewhere, he actually does know why he's here. 00:05:56.040 --> 00:06:01.839 But are some of us thinking that we'll be fulfilled when we are the best parent, 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:11.899 the best pastor, the best engineer, the best dancer, the best servant, the best high schooler. 00:06:11.899 --> 00:06:24.239 Is it possible that we are often confused or forgetful or negligent on the reason we exist? 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:29.319 I want to get this foundational purpose clear. 00:06:29.660 --> 00:06:36.960 To do that, to be clear about our reason for existence, we have to go back to the beginning of the story. 00:06:38.340 --> 00:06:42.240 In the beginning, you know how it starts. 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:45.340 In the beginning was God. 00:06:46.500 --> 00:06:51.980 Eternally existing, self-sufficient, relational. 00:06:53.740 --> 00:06:59.060 And he created the entire world, right? 00:06:59.699 --> 00:07:01.280 There was nothing else there. 00:07:01.540 --> 00:07:05.000 So to be clear, this is a God-centered story, right? 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:10.740 He's there and he created everything from nothing. 00:07:11.019 --> 00:07:11.960 Ex nihilo. 00:07:13.019 --> 00:07:15.040 He is the source of everything. 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:19.500 Everything is defined in relationship to him. 00:07:20.439 --> 00:07:23.180 Now a couple years ago when we looked at Genesis chapter 1, 00:07:23.259 --> 00:07:27.139 we talked more about the whole story of creation and what happens. 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:28.400 We're not going to do that this morning. 00:07:28.400 --> 00:07:36.280 For now, just notice that what God does is he powerfully just speaks things into existence, doesn't he? 00:07:36.279 --> 00:07:42.379 The pattern here throughout the chapter is God speaks, for example, light. 00:07:42.799 --> 00:07:43.500 And what happens? 00:07:44.139 --> 00:07:44.859 Light. 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:47.379 And it's good. 00:07:47.379 --> 00:07:51.420 And there's evening and there's morning each day. 00:07:51.420 --> 00:08:04.020 And that happens through five days of seas and mountains and moons and stars and plants and animals filling all of God's creation. 00:08:04.019 --> 00:08:07.560 Just think about the wonder of that. 00:08:07.560 --> 00:08:13.500 I stood on the beach this week and watched the sunset across the ocean. 00:08:13.500 --> 00:08:18.620 You've seen a sunrise over these mountains, right? 00:08:20.759 --> 00:08:21.420 Think about it. 00:08:21.420 --> 00:08:27.120 Every animal in every zoo or aquarium you've ever been to. 00:08:27.800 --> 00:08:34.399 Every plant in every botanical garden and in every rainforest in the world. 00:08:36.139 --> 00:08:40.460 Created because he spoke it into existence. 00:08:40.460 --> 00:08:42.200 It's amazing, isn't it? 00:08:42.379 --> 00:08:43.759 It's already amazing. 00:08:43.900 --> 00:08:49.500 It's almost beyond words for us to try to capture the grandeur of that. 00:08:51.639 --> 00:08:53.800 But then that pattern is broken. 00:08:54.759 --> 00:09:04.240 That five-day pattern over and over all of a sudden changes to draw our attention to something even more amazing. 00:09:05.240 --> 00:09:06.920 In verse 26. 00:09:06.919 --> 00:09:11.419 And God said not let there be. 00:09:13.799 --> 00:09:16.079 But all of a sudden something different. 00:09:16.259 --> 00:09:19.139 He said let us make. 00:09:20.299 --> 00:09:21.139 What? 00:09:21.879 --> 00:09:25.860 What could it be that's so special? 00:09:28.039 --> 00:09:33.219 And God said let us make man in our image. 00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:35.299 After our likeness. 00:09:35.299 --> 00:09:38.459 And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea. 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:39.719 And over the birds of the heavens. 00:09:39.839 --> 00:09:40.579 And over the livestock. 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:41.659 And over all the earth. 00:09:41.719 --> 00:09:44.279 And over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 00:09:44.919 --> 00:09:49.139 So God created man in his own image. 00:09:49.299 --> 00:09:51.839 In the image of God he created him. 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:54.759 Male and female he created them. 00:09:56.259 --> 00:09:58.139 And God blessed them. 00:09:58.139 --> 00:10:00.759 And God said to them. 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:04.179 And fill the earth and subdue it. 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:06.539 And have dominion over the fish of the sea. 00:10:06.699 --> 00:10:08.120 And over the birds of the heavens. 00:10:08.319 --> 00:10:12.939 And over every living thing that moves on the earth. 00:10:15.439 --> 00:10:16.120 Listen. 00:10:16.340 --> 00:10:19.960 God made you special. 00:10:19.960 --> 00:10:22.780 No matter how old you are. 00:10:23.620 --> 00:10:27.920 Nothing else in the whole of God's good creation. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:30.120 Is spoken of in this way. 00:10:30.560 --> 00:10:32.660 There is so much we could say. 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:35.360 In the first couple chapters of this story. 00:10:35.800 --> 00:10:38.180 But I want to focus really just on one thing. 00:10:38.400 --> 00:10:39.800 In verse 28. 00:10:41.379 --> 00:10:45.500 What happens when God creates man and woman? 00:10:45.500 --> 00:10:47.200 The very first thing. 00:10:48.039 --> 00:10:49.759 Immediately he creates. 00:10:50.039 --> 00:10:50.539 And then. 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:52.840 God. 00:10:54.919 --> 00:10:55.919 Blessed them. 00:10:58.600 --> 00:11:01.320 Now there is a lot tied up in that one word. 00:11:01.580 --> 00:11:03.559 More than I'm going to tease out this morning. 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:05.879 But maybe you could think about it more. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:07.340 What does it mean that. 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:10.240 What would it mean if God. 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:12.480 The creator of it all. 00:11:12.759 --> 00:11:14.320 The one at the center of everything. 00:11:15.500 --> 00:11:16.440 Blessed me. 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:20.159 So much in that word. 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:20.960 At its essence. 00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:24.340 It means we have a relationship with God. 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:27.419 That nothing else in all of creation has. 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:29.480 We were made. 00:11:29.700 --> 00:11:31.899 For this special relationship with him. 00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:33.340 We didn't earn this relationship. 00:11:33.559 --> 00:11:35.200 We didn't work our way into it. 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:37.700 It means from the very moment he created us. 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:39.419 The posture of God. 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:40.720 Towards humanity. 00:11:41.019 --> 00:11:41.879 Was one of what? 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:43.519 Blessing. 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:47.000 Of doing infinite good to us. 00:11:47.079 --> 00:11:48.980 Of giving himself to us. 00:11:49.059 --> 00:11:51.120 This is God gracing us. 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:54.079 Before we've done anything to deserve it. 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:59.299 Grace is always the nature of God's relating to his people. 00:11:59.299 --> 00:12:05.839 And what could this good and gracious God possibly do. 00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:10.319 To do the most good to us. 00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:14.120 Give us himself. 00:12:15.299 --> 00:12:15.539 Right? 00:12:15.799 --> 00:12:16.579 What else? 00:12:17.859 --> 00:12:21.339 Commentator Derek Kidner describes God blessing us. 00:12:21.340 --> 00:12:26.320 As God turning full face to the recipient. 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:28.720 In self-giving. 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:31.280 That's what blessing means. 00:12:31.420 --> 00:12:33.519 God turning his full face. 00:12:33.940 --> 00:12:35.280 To the recipient. 00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:37.500 And giving himself. 00:12:39.700 --> 00:12:42.180 The creation is good. 00:12:42.440 --> 00:12:42.620 Right? 00:12:42.940 --> 00:12:44.300 It's a good world. 00:12:44.620 --> 00:12:45.960 But God himself. 00:12:46.180 --> 00:12:47.900 Is the source of all goodness. 00:12:47.900 --> 00:12:50.259 The goodness behind all other goodness. 00:12:50.259 --> 00:12:50.819 If you will. 00:12:50.960 --> 00:12:54.120 It's all defined in relationship to him. 00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:57.700 See God is the only active character in this story this morning. 00:12:57.740 --> 00:12:58.059 Isn't he? 00:12:58.220 --> 00:12:59.159 He's the creator. 00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:00.259 He's the king. 00:13:00.539 --> 00:13:01.600 He's the hero. 00:13:02.220 --> 00:13:04.879 And as soon as he makes us. 00:13:05.819 --> 00:13:08.139 He blesses us. 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:13.939 To appreciate the shock of this coming at this point in the story. 00:13:13.940 --> 00:13:20.940 You have to realize the marked difference that this is from all the other ancient Near Eastern religions. 00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:23.040 When the Bible's written. 00:13:23.300 --> 00:13:26.380 Here's what everybody in the world was being told. 00:13:26.700 --> 00:13:32.540 They were being told stories about how the gods were always pitted against man. 00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:36.520 That was the nature of all of the other myths going around. 00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:42.139 Where the gods used mankind as their slaves to accomplish things. 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:46.039 Or to avoid work themselves because it was beneath them. 00:13:46.939 --> 00:13:47.919 But here in the Bible. 00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:50.919 The God who makes all things. 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:52.600 Who is the source of all value. 00:13:52.939 --> 00:13:54.079 Builds his work. 00:13:54.139 --> 00:13:55.279 And he's doing lots of work. 00:13:55.559 --> 00:13:57.919 His work of creation builds to a crescendo. 00:13:58.379 --> 00:14:00.759 The poetic structure of this section. 00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:02.220 The unique word choice. 00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:03.519 The heightened storytelling. 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:05.220 Storytelling like a drum roll. 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:07.179 It's building to verse 26. 00:14:07.480 --> 00:14:08.679 And all of a sudden what happens? 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:10.759 He makes mankind. 00:14:10.939 --> 00:14:12.039 Male and female. 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:16.120 In his image. 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:19.659 You see how our relationship to him. 00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:21.399 Is the source of our value. 00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:23.240 It's in reference to him. 00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:24.559 That we know who we are. 00:14:26.179 --> 00:14:27.259 And then what does he do? 00:14:27.860 --> 00:14:29.460 He speaks his blessing. 00:14:30.620 --> 00:14:33.059 Before we've done anything to earn it. 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:34.319 It's like. 00:14:34.919 --> 00:14:38.960 If we can hardly wrap our minds around that dynamic. 00:14:39.319 --> 00:14:41.699 But I think the closest we get would be like a mother. 00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:43.620 In a hospital room. 00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:45.559 Holding her newborn baby. 00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:47.139 Who's just come out. 00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:48.419 Maybe has done nothing. 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:50.039 If anything the baby has done what? 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:52.799 Scream at me. 00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:53.220 Okay. 00:14:53.539 --> 00:14:55.220 That's the best we've got. 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:56.980 And the mother feels. 00:14:57.319 --> 00:14:59.679 I love you so much. 00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:00.139 Right. 00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:01.220 Already. 00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:02.920 Before you've done anything. 00:15:03.060 --> 00:15:04.139 Maybe you've actually just. 00:15:04.540 --> 00:15:06.139 Kind of pushed back against me. 00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:10.620 God. 00:15:11.680 --> 00:15:12.820 Looks at us. 00:15:13.100 --> 00:15:13.700 Like that. 00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:15.160 What a marvelous. 00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:16.220 What a unique. 00:15:16.700 --> 00:15:18.139 Dynamic in that relationship. 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:19.560 And think about that. 00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:20.580 Every week. 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:23.120 God speaks his word of blessing. 00:15:23.660 --> 00:15:24.300 To us. 00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:25.259 Into our lives. 00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:25.620 Doesn't he? 00:15:25.620 --> 00:15:27.500 We call it the benediction. 00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:29.799 The good word. 00:15:29.940 --> 00:15:31.279 The word of blessing. 00:15:31.580 --> 00:15:35.980 It is the word that sends us into every work week. 00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:40.399 That launches us into anything that we have to do. 00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:42.899 Is that we are already blessed. 00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:44.279 Before any of it. 00:15:46.179 --> 00:15:48.279 In a way he does with nothing else. 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:49.539 In all of his creation. 00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:50.860 God now says. 00:15:51.579 --> 00:15:53.620 At the end of day six. 00:15:53.839 --> 00:15:56.819 It is very good. 00:15:58.159 --> 00:16:03.559 We were made for relationship with the God who blesses us. 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:07.620 You were made to meet your maker. 00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:10.939 No one and nothing else. 00:16:11.319 --> 00:16:12.399 Will satisfy. 00:16:12.899 --> 00:16:13.639 Fulfill. 00:16:13.939 --> 00:16:16.899 Or match that glorious purpose. 00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:21.980 St. Augustine said it famously over 1500 years ago. 00:16:22.579 --> 00:16:24.980 You have made us for yourself. 00:16:25.299 --> 00:16:26.000 Oh Lord. 00:16:26.779 --> 00:16:28.459 And our hearts are restless. 00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:31.480 Until they find their rest. 00:16:32.039 --> 00:16:32.699 In you. 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:35.259 This is by the way. 00:16:35.319 --> 00:16:37.480 What we are talking about in our mission statement. 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:38.500 As a church. 00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:41.439 When we say to experience. 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:43.120 Grace. 00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:45.639 That our raison d'etre. 00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:48.840 Is not something we achieve. 00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:50.399 But something we receive. 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:54.480 The unmerited blessing of God himself. 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:57.699 The love of the creator of the universe. 00:16:57.699 --> 00:17:00.319 Shaping our very existence. 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:02.419 The joy of God the Father. 00:17:02.579 --> 00:17:05.619 Filling our hearts with satisfaction. 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:08.559 It's relationship with him. 00:17:08.779 --> 00:17:08.980 Right? 00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:13.259 That is what will eternally satisfy. 00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:15.139 Will eternally transform. 00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:16.680 Will eternally delight. 00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:17.600 Our souls. 00:17:17.600 --> 00:17:18.500 Our souls. 00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:21.700 Said differently. 00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:23.360 Friend. 00:17:24.080 --> 00:17:25.880 Knowing this God. 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:27.640 Relating to him. 00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:29.860 Is why you exist. 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:32.880 It's what gives your life meaning. 00:17:33.880 --> 00:17:34.640 And value. 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:38.140 And if winning the masters. 00:17:38.140 --> 00:17:41.759 And making millions of dollars won't. 00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:46.920 Then doesn't it have to be something beyond this world. 00:17:47.120 --> 00:17:49.180 Beyond this created world. 00:17:49.780 --> 00:17:51.160 How about the creator? 00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:54.780 See we are in relationship. 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:57.580 With a God who blesses us. 00:17:57.820 --> 00:18:00.640 Because he made us in his image. 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:02.100 To reflect him. 00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:03.980 Can you believe that? 00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:07.480 You want to talk about God made you special? 00:18:08.139 --> 00:18:11.759 What could possibly be a better gift? 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:13.759 Of greater value. 00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:15.319 A higher honor. 00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:19.399 Than to be made like the maker of all. 00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:22.119 Every one of us. 00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:25.759 So let me ask you personally. 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:28.000 What makes you valuable? 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:33.139 Maybe you struggle to answer that question. 00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:36.000 For many of us. 00:18:36.080 --> 00:18:36.520 We think. 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:38.360 The way that we look. 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:40.220 Gives us value. 00:18:41.340 --> 00:18:43.160 Do I look young enough? 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:45.080 Cool enough? 00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:46.600 Skinny enough? 00:18:47.160 --> 00:18:48.280 Strong enough? 00:18:49.900 --> 00:18:51.160 God says no. 00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:53.560 I gave you value. 00:18:53.800 --> 00:18:55.000 When I made you. 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:56.920 And spoke blessing over you. 00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:59.560 So now the only thing we long for. 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:01.480 Is to look like him. 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:03.460 To reflect his image. 00:19:03.600 --> 00:19:06.560 We don't have to manage our own image to get value. 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:08.080 We're already valuable. 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:12.860 Many of us think. 00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:17.180 That the work we do gives us value. 00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:20.539 Have I preached well enough? 00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:23.700 Have I advanced professionally enough? 00:19:23.860 --> 00:19:25.840 Have I been productive enough? 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:27.059 God says no. 00:19:27.179 --> 00:19:27.299 No. 00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:27.639 No. 00:19:27.919 --> 00:19:29.659 I gave you value. 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:30.859 When I made you. 00:19:30.939 --> 00:19:33.039 And spoke blessing over you. 00:19:33.439 --> 00:19:35.539 So now you work in my creation. 00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:36.619 With dignity. 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:38.500 Tending and caring for it. 00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:39.720 As I've called you to do. 00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:40.779 And you do that work. 00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:41.740 With no pressure. 00:19:41.939 --> 00:19:43.500 To make a name for yourself. 00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:45.220 Or to outshine others. 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:47.139 You're already valuable. 00:19:50.679 --> 00:19:52.819 Many of us think the power we have. 00:19:53.199 --> 00:19:54.659 Gives us value. 00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:56.820 Who listens to us. 00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:58.500 And who remembers us. 00:19:58.580 --> 00:19:59.920 And what impact we have. 00:19:59.980 --> 00:20:01.340 What influence we have. 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.920 Or how much we control. 00:20:04.420 --> 00:20:05.600 God says no. 00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:06.640 No, no. 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:08.820 I gave you value. 00:20:08.820 --> 00:20:10.820 When I made you. 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:12.860 And spoke blessing over you. 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:13.720 So now. 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:14.100 Yeah. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:15.940 You rule in my world. 00:20:16.040 --> 00:20:16.820 You have dominion. 00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:18.259 That reflects my eternal. 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:19.880 And perfectly good authority. 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:22.580 You're not grasping for power and control. 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:24.700 You fill the earth and subdue it. 00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:25.920 Because you are the part. 00:20:26.040 --> 00:20:27.300 Of all my creation. 00:20:27.300 --> 00:20:28.960 That's in special relationship. 00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:30.560 With the ultimate king. 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:32.180 To reflect my image. 00:20:32.360 --> 00:20:35.160 You are already valuable. 00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:38.900 Do you see God's blessing in that? 00:20:39.300 --> 00:20:42.820 Can you feel and internalize the truth of that blessing? 00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:46.619 What it means is that you have value when you're injured. 00:20:47.639 --> 00:20:49.439 Or aged. 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:51.700 You're still valuable. 00:20:52.639 --> 00:20:55.539 It means you have value when you fail. 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:58.680 Or when you get laid off. 00:20:59.579 --> 00:21:02.659 It means you have value when you seem insignificant. 00:21:02.659 --> 00:21:03.659 Or unappreciated. 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:05.519 Or unnoticed. 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.659 You're still valuable. 00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:10.099 You are in his image. 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:13.559 You're made for relationship with him. 00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:15.819 And every one of us can have that. 00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:19.220 That's God's blessing on you. 00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:25.920 So how do we reflect God's image? 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:29.559 As we relate to his creation. 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:33.480 If we're made in his image. 00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:35.000 What's that going to look like for us? 00:21:36.860 --> 00:21:38.460 There are many things we could say. 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:40.079 A lot of books written on that topic. 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:41.759 But in terms of today's passage. 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:45.039 Just want to focus on that one thing. 00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:49.200 What's the first thing we know about how this God relates to the things he created? 00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:49.620 He creates. 00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:52.460 He blesses them. 00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:55.900 In his image then. 00:21:57.140 --> 00:21:59.720 We bless creation. 00:21:59.880 --> 00:22:00.240 Don't we? 00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:04.000 We are to do good toward all of it. 00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:05.920 We must treat the places. 00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:06.620 The things. 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:09.000 Especially the people around us. 00:22:09.120 --> 00:22:10.860 Better than they deserve. 00:22:11.600 --> 00:22:13.519 We grace them over. 00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:14.420 And over. 00:22:14.600 --> 00:22:15.160 And over. 00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:17.220 We rule over every inch of creation. 00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:19.039 Not according to our own preferences. 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:20.539 Or for our own glory. 00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:23.240 But after the gracious rule of our king. 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:24.160 For their good. 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:25.559 And for his glory. 00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:25.900 Right? 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:30.140 This is what it looks like for that blessing to keep flowing. 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:34.420 For the gift of God's grace to keep on giving. 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:37.940 It's the prayer of Psalm 67. 00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:41.259 May God be gracious to us. 00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:42.660 And bless us. 00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:45.180 And make his face to shine upon us. 00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:45.340 Right? 00:22:45.380 --> 00:22:48.200 This is what God's people are taught to long for. 00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:49.539 It's his blessing. 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.480 It's his face. 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:51.660 To what end? 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:54.980 To what end is all of that delighting our souls? 00:22:55.320 --> 00:22:58.039 That your way may be known on earth. 00:22:58.600 --> 00:23:02.440 Your saving power among all nations. 00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:04.380 Let the peoples praise you. 00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:04.799 Oh God. 00:23:04.920 --> 00:23:07.900 Let all the peoples praise you. 00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:12.480 There is one who is worthy of praise. 00:23:12.600 --> 00:23:14.660 The one who has blessed us. 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:18.220 In order that we might be a blessing to all the peoples of the earth. 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:21.080 That's what we mean by the way. 00:23:21.820 --> 00:23:24.360 With a second part of our mission statement. 00:23:24.820 --> 00:23:26.860 To express grace. 00:23:26.859 --> 00:23:30.559 And these relationships that impact eternity. 00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:33.899 That we are blessed to be a blessing. 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:37.979 That when God brings us into relationship with himself. 00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:40.079 That first and primary relationship. 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:45.139 We want everyone else to experience that most blessed relationship too. 00:23:45.199 --> 00:23:46.199 That's what we long for. 00:23:46.299 --> 00:23:47.619 For everyone around us. 00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:50.500 All of who we are. 00:23:51.159 --> 00:23:54.759 And everything we do comes back to him. 00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:58.079 To our relationship with the God who started it all. 00:23:58.259 --> 00:24:03.279 The reason we exist is relationship. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:09.460 Before we finish I want to acknowledge that it is possible. 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:15.440 Quite likely in fact that some of you don't believe that. 00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:19.140 That the reason we exist is relationship. 00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:25.560 We live in a radically anthropocentric world. 00:24:26.560 --> 00:24:32.320 Where God has been displaced lately by the all important me. 00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:35.040 What I desire. 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:36.920 What I value. 00:24:37.080 --> 00:24:38.360 My freedom. 00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:42.460 And so some of you believe. 00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:47.380 That it's enough for us to be self-referential. 00:24:48.100 --> 00:24:51.100 Defined in reference only to ourselves. 00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:55.460 Things like our reason for existence being our own reproduction. 00:24:56.420 --> 00:24:57.819 Our own control. 00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:04.740 Our own success at being comfortable or happy or whatever we want to be. 00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:08.559 That's why we exist some say. 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:10.880 Let me ask you. 00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:14.279 If that's where we believe our purpose lies. 00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:16.740 How would we know if we were wrong? 00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:21.099 If we missed our real purpose? 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:23.720 We wouldn't. 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:24.720 Would we? 00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:27.380 We'd have only ourselves. 00:25:27.380 --> 00:25:32.440 We'd have to in fact succeed in every way possible. 00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:35.300 And then be as honest as Scotty Scheffler. 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:37.920 To admit that it doesn't satisfy. 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:41.660 That it's not the fulfilling life that we've longed for. 00:25:42.780 --> 00:25:44.820 Have you considered his testimony? 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:49.620 That of many other people successful by our definitions of success? 00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:53.860 Could it be there's value beyond me? 00:25:53.859 --> 00:25:54.000 Maybe. 00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:59.799 I'd also suggest that it's possible. 00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:01.919 Perhaps even more likely. 00:26:02.679 --> 00:26:07.519 That some of you believe the reason we exist is relationship. 00:26:09.559 --> 00:26:12.039 But you haven't ordered your life that way. 00:26:14.159 --> 00:26:18.879 Knowing God more is not your daily passion. 00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:21.779 It's your Sunday pastime. 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:25.779 It's what you tell people. 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:29.019 It's what you hope your kids embrace. 00:26:32.859 --> 00:26:34.940 Scotty Scheffler a few days ago. 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:39.220 Augustine several hundred years ago. 00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:43.819 And Genesis several thousand years before that. 00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:49.000 Are telling you that you'll end up restless. 00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:53.659 Until you make the main thing the main thing. 00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:59.500 Until your reason for existence is actually the reason for which you live and breathe. 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:02.599 And do whatever you do every single day. 00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:05.599 That God made you for himself. 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:09.019 Especially blessed. 00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:11.399 Like no other creature in his image. 00:27:11.699 --> 00:27:15.480 To hear what he speaks about you more loudly than your own voice. 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.639 Or any other voice. 00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:22.580 What needs to change for that reality to be formative. 00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:24.360 To be first. 00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:27.140 To be final in your life. 00:27:27.140 --> 00:27:32.060 Is his word on your daily playlist. 00:27:32.780 --> 00:27:34.660 So that it shapes your soul. 00:27:36.340 --> 00:27:42.280 Are you doing life with people who are actively committed to that priority. 00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:43.080 Now listen. 00:27:43.280 --> 00:27:45.320 Other relationships are vital too. 00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:50.580 Because God highly values everyone that he has made in his image. 00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:53.179 But do you have a grace group? 00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:54.799 Formal or informal. 00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:56.119 I don't care what you call it. 00:27:56.139 --> 00:27:57.519 If it's your group of friends at school. 00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:59.399 You probably don't call it a grace group. 00:27:59.480 --> 00:27:59.740 Okay. 00:28:00.139 --> 00:28:00.960 That's all right. 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:04.899 I'm saying do you have people who pursue God. 00:28:05.139 --> 00:28:07.639 And who push you to live with him. 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:09.039 And to reflect his image. 00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:11.199 And to say this is where life is. 00:28:13.619 --> 00:28:16.439 Do you make time to listen to his spirits? 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:19.859 Do you really seek to live on his path. 00:28:19.859 --> 00:28:21.339 And in his power. 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:25.219 See it's not unusual. 00:28:25.939 --> 00:28:27.299 You don't need to feel alone. 00:28:28.399 --> 00:28:31.659 If you struggle with this relationship with God thing. 00:28:32.879 --> 00:28:33.699 Next week. 00:28:34.179 --> 00:28:39.579 Our second story will show us how the relationship that we were made for got broken. 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:42.199 Fellowship lost. 00:28:42.919 --> 00:28:46.459 The image of God in us marred. 00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:53.299 And so we're all living in the context where that relationship with God is a struggle. 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:59.160 The rest of these Old Testament stories are going to show us a God who won't let that stand. 00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:00.940 Who won't settle for that. 00:29:01.140 --> 00:29:08.720 Who insists on this relationship so much that he rescues and restores us at great cost to himself. 00:29:08.819 --> 00:29:09.279 Doesn't he? 00:29:09.279 --> 00:29:14.920 See ultimately he is so committed to blessing us. 00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:18.839 That he blesses us not only in our goodness. 00:29:18.839 --> 00:29:24.359 In that very good perfect state wherein he created us. 00:29:24.440 --> 00:29:25.319 Not just then. 00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:29.759 But he also blesses us in our brokenness. 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:32.059 Don't forget this. 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:37.939 When you're seeking to reflect the image of a God who blesses first. 00:29:37.940 --> 00:29:41.660 God humbles himself. 00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:46.120 He enters into our broken world in the person of Jesus Christ. 00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:49.440 Who's the perfect image of the invisible God. 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:50.559 And he does what? 00:29:50.600 --> 00:29:51.920 As he reflects God's image. 00:29:52.180 --> 00:29:54.980 He comes full of grace and truth. 00:29:55.340 --> 00:30:03.320 And he blesses with his grace a world full of people who didn't deserve his blessing at all. 00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:08.179 He disadvantages himself for our advantage. 00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:15.200 He goes to a cross to be broken himself so that we are rescued from our self-centered existence. 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:18.939 And have our broken relationship with God restored. 00:30:20.659 --> 00:30:22.819 So there's good news friends. 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:29.839 For all of you who feel your relationship with God is broken in some way. 00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:36.879 Who know that we're not living consistently with the reason that we exist. 00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:40.519 The purpose for which we were created in the first place. 00:30:40.599 --> 00:30:42.319 The answer we would give to that question. 00:30:42.439 --> 00:30:45.799 And we feel the sense of I'm not living consistent with that. 00:30:46.359 --> 00:30:51.279 Look, God has never lowered our value because of our inconsistency. 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:54.339 He made us special. 00:30:54.959 --> 00:30:56.659 And we remain that way. 00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:59.459 We haven't changed that in his heart. 00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:04.660 In fact, he continues to make relationship with us his number one priority. 00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:10.680 Because that's the way he designed from the beginning to fill the earth with his glory. 00:31:10.920 --> 00:31:19.440 That we, in relationship with him, would be reflections of his glory and grace everywhere. 00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:22.480 What a wonderful purpose you have. 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:27.599 Let's dive deeper into that relationship that we were made for. 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:31.500 And together find him gloriously worthy. 00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:32.680 Let's pray. 00:31:34.860 --> 00:31:37.019 Father, we ask for your help in that. 00:31:37.819 --> 00:31:41.740 Because we're the ones who mess this relationship up so consistently. 00:31:42.059 --> 00:31:45.380 And you're the one who so consistently fixes it. 00:31:45.380 --> 00:31:49.680 So would you help us to get that right. 00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:53.740 To be fixed by the one who made us. 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:55.440 To be reordered. 00:31:55.680 --> 00:31:57.300 To be repurposed. 00:31:57.800 --> 00:32:02.380 To be retuned in our relationship with you. 00:32:02.780 --> 00:32:08.960 Thank you for moving towards us again and again and again. 00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:11.319 To restore that. 00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:14.480 Give us joy in you. 00:32:16.039 --> 00:32:18.039 Every moment of every day. 00:32:19.460 --> 00:32:20.660 In Jesus' name. 00:32:21.380 --> 00:32:21.660 Amen. 00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:26.220 For more information, visit us online at southwood.org. 00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:33.589 Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elmine Elm