What Colors Do You Show the World?

The Message tells us in Matthew 5:14, "You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world." This image I have here is that our appearance is to be that of a colorful rainbow. It's pretty hard to hide a rainbow. Rainbows are way up there in the sky for the whole world to see. We can expose the world to the Light of the World. When His Light is shining in us it definitely attracts attention! Everyone is drawn to this wonder. God as Light and Jesus, the Light of the World and dispenser of living water provide the necessary elements for our rainbow. In the next post we'll discover more about Jesus in those roles.

God-Color Moment
We are to be a delight to the senses. Colors evoke so many emotions and remind us of so many things. How do your feel when you're sitting in a gray room? What do its colors d to your senses when you view a spectacular sunset? Roses of all colors send different messages to their recipients. Red ones are said to mean love, yellow friendship, and so on. Colors are such an important part of our lives. Think about them. Pray about them. Decide at this moment in time what colors you personally display to the world. Are they God colors? Do you lack color? What do you think those colors are saying to those you meet every day as you go about your business? What color does the checker at the grocery store see in you? What color are you when provoked by your unbelieving coworker? Do you show your God colors all day and save the yucky colors for your family? Spend some time deciding exactly what colors you are and what each of your colors represents to you.

This assignment is rather abstract. That is intentional! Each one will have his/her own unique interpretation. (Please don't let this be based on your fashion "season" or the colors you like to wear.) I hope each of you has a very different take on this, because it will be so interesting to share how you see yourselves and learn what different colors mean to others. Some may see you differently than you see yourself. That's okay. You may discover that you are displaying more God colors than you know.


Just look at the colors these parrots have on display! :o) Wondering what they might have to say to the world? They certainly are creations of God and incredible displays of the colors of the Light of the World!

I'm praying that there will be lots of comments on this post as you each consider your colors. It may also be helpful to have a friend or two or more sharing this whole adventure with you. Will you invite them? I'm counting on it!

You'll want to look back at this later in the study to see where your colors have intensified, what new colors you've added to your palette, and what new revelation you've received from the precious Spirit of God in this area of your life. 

This was mentioned in the previous post. I would like to take the time now to ask that any of you who have been reading this blog and would like to become a Christ follower, that you will take the time right now to pray. Acknowledge your sinfulness and need for a Savior. Ask God, because of the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus, to cleanse your heart. Know that for the asking, you are forgiven. Then prayerfully purpose to live your life acknowledging Jesus as the Son of the Living God & the Lord & Savior of your life. Become connected with a local body of Bible believing Christ followers. Know that your life will still have many challenges, you will still stumble, and that Christ is there for you to walk with you, pick you up, and carry you through the journey. If you need encouragement and assistance in finding a church home please contact me. Also, please let me know of your decision that I may be praying for you as you begin this new life in Christ.

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All other content Copyright Lynn U. Watson 2004, 2011

Rainbows!

In the verses in the last post from Ezekiel we read: "As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance;" and from Revelation: "there was a rainbow around the throne like an emerald in appearance." A rainbow surround the throne in both of these accounts. Rainbows evoke much intrigue in our culture. Little leprechauns are said to be able to find the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Those of a certain lifestyle persuasion in our culture have chosen the rainbow as their symbol. The popular Rainbow Brite and friends of the 1980's made a come back. Popular musical artists looking for something better out there use the rainbow metaphor in their lyrics. In all of these instances and many more, we see the world duplicating what God created and using it as its own.

A quick review from your elementary school science class: the basic elements that are needed for a rainbow to form are a source of light and water, a prism or similar item, which will both reflect and refract the rays of the light. Light itself is pure white and represents all colors combined. When the light hits the "liquid" medium it is refracted and reflected and breaks into all or some of the colors of the rainbow. The exact result is dependent on the angle at which the light strikes. It can be done in a laboratory, of course. Rainbows can be created by holding prisms, holograms and similar items up to a light source. Those are duplications of the real thing -- the "bow" in the sky.

Satan, himself, masquerades at an Angel of Light (2 Corinthians 11:14). The creative dynamic of this masterpiece of nature, however, belongs to God alone. Rainbows are such a vibrant display of His glory. It seems that if the world would place so much emphasis on light and rainbows, then God must have some intense purpose for them in the life of the believer.

The first mention of a rainbow in Scripture is in Genesis 9:12-13. According to this passage, what importance does the rainbow have for Noah and his family?
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As Christ followers, when we observe the rainbow in the sky, it is not only a delight for our senses, but also a beautiful reminder that God does indeed keep His promises. Find one of His promises to His children in 1 John 1:5-7. What is the promise we have according to these verses?
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God is Light! He is all the colors of the rainbow! Therefore, even the unbelievers unknowingly desire their share in the true God. The promise is that if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN. Our Ultimate Pardon purchased with the blood of God's Son, Jesus Christ, is the only source of true peace. How sad for the unbeliever chasing after any other rainbow than the One that lives within the heart of every believer. Jesus lives within each believer's heart, and by His own Words in John 8:12 (NASB) we hear, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." The world will chase it forever and never attain the pot of gold at the end of their rainbows unless they walk in the true Light. To choose to walk in that true Light they must, of course, be exposed to that Light.

I'm praying right now that as we proceed with this study, those who are not following Christ will see more and more of the true Light of the World and choose to follow Him. I'm also praying that for those who have already made the decision to follow the Light will allow It to shine with more and more God-Color glory.


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All other content, Copyright Lynn U. Watson, 2004, 2011 

Rainbow, Radiance, Glory of the LORD

As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. . .   Ezekiel 1:28 (NASB)

Today we observe descriptions of the throne found in God's Word. In the next post we will look specifically at our reflection of Christ to those around us. What do they see when they look at our lives?
     Please begin by reading the following Scriptures:
     Ezekiel 1:26-38 and Revelation 4:1-3
Record all the facts about the throne that you discover in these two passages.
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What stood out most to you?
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Copyright Lynn U. Watson, 2004, 2011

Your History of His Faithfulness

The children of Israel were familiar with the trials of life. Life certainly wasn't all peachy keen for them. They wandered in the desert for 40 years and grumbled a lot. Later, they reminisced, recalling how God had taken care of every detail of their lives. Exodus 15 is a written record of those memories. Read it now, and list the provisions of God's faithfulness to Israel during the wilderness years. Which ones speak to your heart at this particular time? Do you see those as glimpses of God's glory?
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God-Color Moment
Before continuing with this assignment read Psalms 66, 105, and 136. No matter what our circumstances we can always see glimpses of God's glory by rehearsing the history of His faithfulness thourghout our lives. If you examine your life closely you will see that He was faithful to you even before you knew Him and during those times you wandered in the wilderness. Spend some time now asking God to reveal to you the history of His faithfulness in your life. Write your own personal psalm of praise to Him for all those glimpses of His glory you have witnessed.

What Glory Fills Your Temple?

As a temple of God we should have as much of the glory of Christ surrounding us and in us as the temple in Jerusalem was filled with the glory of God in Isaiah's vision. What observations are you seeing of Christ's glory in your life right now? How does He reveal Himself to you through His Word? In prayer do you ask Him to show Himself instead of asking for the "stuff"? How awed are you at the magnitude of the universe? Have you looked for Him in the small stuff? What is stirred within you when you consider the complexity of nature over which we are powerless?

In the Memphis, Tennessee area where my family makes its home, we had the opportunity to experience that last one up close and personal. It was a few years back, July 22, 2003, to be exact. As the city awoke for the day, some thunderstorms crossed the Mississippi River from Arkansas into downtown Memphis. They were no longer just thunderstorms. As the storms crossed the river something happened and these became straight line winds, which blew at hurricane force. I believe the technical weather term is a derecho.

Within twenty minutes the entire city and county were totally crippled. A full seventy-five percent of the utility company's customers were left without power, an outage which for some lasted nearly two weeks in the heat of a humid Memphis summer. An area which boasts of its many, many old and, therefore, enormous trees found many of them uprooted and lying flat on the ground. On almost every block there was at least one home damaged if not destroyed by these uprooted trees or falling limbs. Grocery stores had to discard much of their perishable food. It took several days for them to restock, and that was after their power was restored.

Did we see the extreme power of God in all of this? You better believe we did. At first look that might seem more like His vengeance, and perhaps it was. But yet in His mercy, only a few lives were lost, most of which were from careless use of candles and generators after the fact. Only one lost life was a direct result of the storm itself. People worked together to clean up the mess. There may have been grumbling about the length of time the power was out, but utility crews were cheered and applauded by residents as block by block they brought the city back to life. We are privileged to see glimpses of God's glory in so many ways; and, YES, I believe we can even see glimpses of His glory in the devastating effects of nature.

Comparing that storm to the storms of life, there are some striking similarities. They usually come unexpectedly. They knock us down hard. We have the choice of throwing a temper tantrum, acting childish, and allowing the storm to keep us in a crippled state. Or we can look to God's faithfulness in the past and trust Him as slowly but surely, "block by block" with His guidance we put the pieces back together, and we walk into the future knowing He is there and He knows what we are going through -- He's even walking right there with us!

A Picture of God-Color Glory

One of the more beautiful things about sharing this Bible study as a blog is the opportunity to add little tidbits as we go along. Today is VALENTINES DAY. Found this gorgeous heart that I believe just radiates God-Color Glory! Hope it brightens your day today, and enhances your experience with the study. :o)




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What's In Your Temple?

Do you not know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV)

In the last post we pondered and imagined what the train of His robe might have looked like. Today's focus will shift from the train to the temple that it fills. In the introductory material we discussed the size of the temple and how much fabric it would have taken to fill the temple in Jerusalem. We considered that it would take us a life time and then some to truly examine every inch of that garment.

We are ready to consider another temple and what fills it. Read 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 1 Corinthians 6:19. How is the temple identified in these Scriptures, and how is it filled?
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Now read Isaiah 6:1-4. What else do these verses say about the temple?
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Did you catch that?! Our bodies are the temple! OKAY! So, with that in mind, and looking back at Isaiah 6:1-4 , if each of our bodies is a temple and the Spirit of God occupies it, then are flaming creatures with six wings flying over us? Do we fill the earth with His glory? Does the shouting of the angels shake our foundation? Does smoke (burning incense  = prayers of the saints -- Revelation 5:8) fill us up? Does the train of His robe fill our bodies?


That is all pretty mind boggling, don't you think? :o) Do we allow enough of Jesus in our lives for us to reflect that kind of glory to the world around us? What does the world see when it observes our lives? Does it catch little glimpses of that glory? Or does it see a jewel encrusted train filling our lives? Do you see His glory when you look in the mirror? I desire to see His glory in my life, and I desperately desire for others to see Him in me. Do you desire the same?


Photo from www.multimedia-stock.com
All other content Copyright Lynn U Watson, 2004, 2011


(For answering questions such as those in this post, to make notes and add your own thoughts, and to be able to look back later, you might consider writing them out in a journal, keeping a Word file or a notepad on your desktop computer, or making notes about the material right on your Kindle.)