Sabbath: Images of Unity
Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com
Read for This Week’s Study: 1 Pet. 2:9; Exod. 19:5-6; Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Cor. 3:16-17; 1 Cor. 12:12-26; John 10:1-11; Psalm 23:1-6.
Memory Text: “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12, NKJV).
As anyone who has studied the Bible knows, it is filled with images and symbols that point to realities greater than those images and symbols themselves. For instance, the essence of the whole biblical sacrificial system is, in a sense, symbolic of the much greater reality: Jesus and the entire plan of salvation.
Many other kinds of images are used in the Bible, and sometimes from the most basic elements, too-such as water, fire, wind. Depending upon the context, these are images for spiritual and theological truths. For example, when Jesus said, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8, NIV), the wind was used as a symbol for the Holy Spirit.
The Bible uses a number of images to describe the kind of unity we find in the church, the unity that God calls it to manifest before the world. Each individual image is not complete in and of itself. Instead, as a whole, these images reveal many things about church unity, such as the church’s relationship to God, the members’ relationships to one another, and the church’s relationship to the community as a whole.
This week’s lesson will look at some of the images and what they reveal to us about unity in Christ.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, November 10.
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Images are very powerful but they only tell part of the story. I have mentioned on the blog that I spend much of my time these days photographing birds. Each tie I photograph a bird I try to capture something of the character and behaviour of the bird. Such photography is more than just wandering around in the forest and pointing the camera at birds that I come across. Often I have to repeatedly visit the same area and watch the birds over a long period of time. Really meaningful images that tell more about the birds, come by patience and persistence.
Perhaps we can apply this to the current topic. This week we will study several images of unity. Some images have not been included, probably due to insufficient time. As always, the benefit of such study is in its application and not the eloquence of our words or the aptness of our quotes. Unity is not an instantaneous solution but the work of a lifetime.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and this picture. The bird is so beautiful.
Beautiful shot Maurice, I don't get the wonderful variety of birds here in Arizona which you have 'down under', or are we down under? is there a site where we can view some of your photography? BTW, you didn't identify the little beauty.
I also want to thank you for all your insightful comments on the SS program.
Thank you for your appreciative comments. You can view some of my bird photographs at:
https://ashton-scape.smugmug.com/
Wow!! This is so beautiful; I haven't seen anything like this in a very long time. It makes me wish I was there; some images can do that for us, take us to places that we may never be able to go. May God continue to be with you on your journeys!!
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Therefore Christians of one faith who believe in the Godhead, the birth, resurrection and 2nd advent of Jesus Christ should bear the fruit of the spirit in order for us to portray the image of unity.
As with so many things, we need to look carefully. The first time I just saw a stunning bird. When I looked again this morning after sharing with my husband I saw an area that looks different near the shoulder. I’m going to assume its shoulder is pressed tight against body feathers. Thanks for sharing things that make us think.
Always images means that there is something real. God be praised.