Creation’s Travail

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CREATION’S TRAVAIL

By Ken Blue

 

“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” Romans 8:22

 

A little worm emerged to see what he could see, but he overlooked the Robin setting high up in a tree.

 

The Robins swoop was fatal, with aim that was exact. But, in his satisfaction, he ignored the neighbor’s cat.

 

The cat’s stealth was lethal, with speed no eye could see. Only feathers remained; the Robin was history.

 

The Rottweiler hated that cat; it long had eluded him, but now he had it by the neck and shook it limb to limb.

 

An angry neighbor shot the dog; the police took him away. He spent some time in jail, with a hefty fine to pay.

 

It all started with a look, to see what he could see, and ends with the travail that plagues you and me.

THE IMAGE OF CHRIST

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THE IMAGE OF CHRIST
By Ken Blue

“ (Jesus) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” Colossians 1:15. “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,” Galatians 4:19.
In a previous article I stated that the pastors job is to mature God’s people into the “the image of Christ” However, like most pastors, I failed to explain what it is not; what it is and how it is accomplished.
What the image is not: The above states that God is invisible and that Christ was His image. By considering a few details in the life of Christ, we discover what the image is not.
It certainly is not physical, for He came to Israel and He was not recognized by any, as to who He was. It could not have been His dress, the cut of His hair, His shoes, His living quarters, His bank account, His mode of transportation, or his teaching and preaching ability. It was not tithing, soul-winning or how much Scripture He could quote.
The following adds more light to what the image is not. “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:2-5.
The “Marlboro Man” will not do. Physical beauty reveals nothing about God’s image inside. Acceptance by others leaves us in the dark as to whether God indwells us or not. A winning smile and magnet personally is probably misleading. A positive attitude and lack of sorrows may only be applied psychology. The invisible God was not easily seen in Jesus Christ, and yet He was filled without measure.
What the image is: We conclude that the image must be formed in a man, and then perhaps the discerning eye may comprehend it. Paul’s burden for the Galatians was that Christ would be “formed in them.”
When the image of Christ shines through a believer, it will be expressed in the “fruit of the Spirit”. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23. We do not have the time or space to expand on each of these. However, the reader should meditate on them until God opens his understanding of what they are and what they are not.
How it is created: This transformation is not something we acquire by practice. It is the supernatural out-flowing of the fullness of Christ from within. It comes about by our personal fellowship with Christ in prayer and Scripture. This transformation is accomplished in the prayer closet and private fellowship of His Word. Until one learns of Him in prayer, Bible study and suffering, the image of Christ will never be evident. As one experiences these, his mind is being renewed in Christ’s likeness. The man most nearly transformed will be the most misunderstood by others (Job, Jeremiah, Christ, Paul, the Twelve). In fact, the believer will be the last to identify it in his own life.
Now you know what it doesn’t look like. Most fundamentalist have missed it by light years. Perhaps I too have missed it. But, I do know what it is and what it is not. Now you do too.

BOOK: Preparing for the Ministry

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In this book, Pastor Ken Blue answers countless questions for young Ted Byler about the ministry. Now you too are able to glean from the forty years of experience Pastor Blue shares with Ted. Some of the questions dealt with:

  • How to choose a Bible College
  • How to assist
  • Should you assist or start your own church
  • The first things you should know
  • How to develop leaders
  • Where to expect problems
    Preparing for the Ministry
    Preparing for the Ministry

    The book may also be used in the class room and there are also forty-two questions for the student to answer.

    Order it today from: Open Door Baptist Church Bookstore!

 

BOOK: How To Assist Your Pastor

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Why is it so many assistant pastors fail in the ministry? Thirty five years of pastoring by Dr. Ken Blue has given him keen insight to what is lacking and what is needed to succeed in the ministry. In this book, Dr. Blue has gleaned information from both the Old and New Testaments and has skillfully and interestingly pointed out why assistants fail in their ministry. This book should be read by every person who serves in the local church. 47 pages an excerpt: History and Experience prove the impossibility of extending one’s influence beyond one’s personal reach without the help of others. And the key word in that sentence is “others.”

How To Assist Your Pastor
How To Assist Your Pastor

A pastor can only do the work of one man. He may fell that he is doing the work of others, and in fact, he may be doing the work that others should be doing, but he is still doing the work of one man. I am reminded of the frustration executive, who went to his boss and said, “I want a raise for I am doing the work of ten men.” His boss said, “Tell me who the ten men are and I will fire them.” The only way a pastor can hope to get more done is with capable, loyal leaders working for and with him. Order today.