Recognizing God's Presence in Everyday Life

 

Summary

In today's reflection, the invitation is to actively seek and recognize God's presence in our lives. Drawing inspiration from Alice Walker's "The Color Purple," we are reminded of the beauty and divine presence that often goes unnoticed in our daily lives. God places beauty, like the color purple, all around us, and yet we frequently overlook it. This is a call to be more aware and appreciative of the divine beauty that surrounds us.

The journey of spiritual formation, as discussed in Dallas Willard's "Renovation of the Heart," involves immersing ourselves and others in the presence of the Trinity. This immersion is not merely a ritualistic act but a profound engagement with the divine life and power. It is about creating an atmosphere of honesty, openness, and supernatural care, where God's presence is manifestly evident.

Andy Crouch's insights in "The Life We're Looking For" further emphasize our innate desire to seek recognition and connection. From infancy, we are designed to search for faces that recognize us, affirming our identity and worth. This quest for recognition mirrors our spiritual journey of seeking God's face and presence in our lives.

The practice of recognizing others as image bearers of God is a powerful spiritual exercise. By seeing each person as a reflection of God's image, we cultivate a deeper sense of connection and compassion. This practice challenges us to move beyond superficial judgments and embrace the divine in each individual.

As we go through our day, the challenge is to look for the "color purple"—to see God's presence in the ordinary and extraordinary moments. Just as Jesus bore the color purple in mockery and humiliation, we are reminded of His presence and sacrifice. By immersing others in the Trinitarian presence, we find ourselves enveloped in God's love and grace.

Key Takeaways:

- Seek God's Presence: Actively look for God's presence in the beauty around you, like the color purple. This awareness transforms ordinary moments into divine encounters, reminding us of God's ceaseless efforts to please and connect with us. [00:36]

- Immersion in the Trinity: Spiritual formation involves immersing ourselves and others in the presence of the Trinity. This immersion is not just a ritual but a transformative experience that brings divine life and power into our midst. [02:54]

- The Quest for Recognition: Our innate desire for recognition reflects our spiritual journey. Just as infants seek faces that affirm their identity, we are called to seek God's face, finding our worth and identity in His presence. [05:23]

- Seeing Others as Image Bearers: Recognize each person as an image bearer of God. This practice fosters compassion and connection, challenging us to see beyond superficial judgments and embrace the divine in others. [09:29]

- Look for the Color Purple: In every moment, seek the presence of God, just as Jesus bore the color purple. This practice reminds us of His sacrifice and presence, encouraging us to immerse others in the Trinitarian presence. [10:52]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:36] - Invitation to Seek God
- [01:15] - Finding God in Disappointment
- [01:41] - The Task of Spiritual Formation
- [02:19] - Immersion in the Trinity
- [03:22] - Presence of God in Community
- [04:05] - Atmosphere of Openness
- [04:31] - The Quest for Recognition
- [05:23] - Infant's Search for Identity
- [06:51] - The Still Face Experiment
- [07:40] - Story of Recognition
- [08:40] - Immersing Others in God's Presence
- [09:17] - Seeing Others as Image Bearers
- [10:22] - The Color Purple and Jesus
- [11:05] - Living in God's Presence

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 19:2 - "The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe."
2. Matthew 28:19 - "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

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Observation Questions:

1. What does the color purple symbolize in the context of Jesus' crucifixion, and how is it used in the sermon to illustrate God's presence? [10:22]

2. How does the sermon describe the process of immersing others in the presence of the Trinity? What examples are given to illustrate this concept? [02:54]

3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of recognizing others as image bearers of God? How does this practice affect our interactions with others? [09:17]

4. What does the sermon suggest about our innate desire for recognition and how it relates to our spiritual journey? [05:23]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the act of immersing others in the Trinitarian presence transform both the giver and the receiver? What might this look like in a practical sense? [11:05]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that recognizing God's presence in everyday beauty can change our perspective on life? How does this relate to the idea of seeing the "color purple"? [00:36]

3. How does the sermon connect the quest for recognition with our spiritual journey of seeking God's face? What implications does this have for our understanding of identity and worth? [05:23]

4. What challenges might arise when trying to see others as image bearers of God, and how can these challenges be overcome according to the sermon? [09:17]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent moment when you overlooked the beauty around you. How can you become more intentional about recognizing God's presence in such moments? [00:36]

2. Consider a relationship in your life where you struggle to see the other person as an image bearer of God. What steps can you take to change your perspective and foster a deeper connection? [09:17]

3. Identify a situation where you felt a strong desire for recognition. How can you redirect this desire towards seeking God's face and presence in your life? [05:23]

4. Think about a time when you felt immersed in God's presence. What practices or habits helped you achieve this, and how can you incorporate them into your daily routine? [02:54]

5. How can you actively immerse others in the presence of the Trinity this week? Consider specific actions or words that could help someone feel God's love and grace. [11:05]

6. Reflect on the symbolism of the color purple in your own life. How does it remind you of Jesus' sacrifice and presence, and how can this awareness influence your daily actions? [10:22]

7. What is one practical way you can create an atmosphere of honesty, openness, and supernatural care in your community or small group? [03:53]

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing Divine Beauty in Everyday Life
In our fast-paced lives, it's easy to overlook the beauty that surrounds us. Yet, God places signs of His presence, like the color purple, in our daily experiences. This beauty is not just aesthetic but a reminder of God's ceaseless efforts to connect with us. By actively seeking and acknowledging these divine encounters, we transform ordinary moments into sacred ones, deepening our awareness of God's presence. [00:36]

Psalm 19:1-2 (ESV): "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge."

Reflection: Think of a moment today where you can pause and recognize God's beauty around you. How can this awareness change your perspective on your daily routine?


Day 2: Immersing in the Trinitarian Presence
Spiritual formation is more than a ritual; it's an invitation to immerse ourselves in the life and power of the Trinity. This immersion creates an atmosphere of honesty and openness, where God's presence becomes evident. By engaging deeply with the divine, we invite transformation not only in ourselves but also in those around us, fostering a community where God's love and grace are palpable. [02:54]

2 Corinthians 13:14 (ESV): "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

Reflection: Consider a relationship or situation where you can invite the presence of the Trinity. How can you create an atmosphere of openness and divine connection in that context?


Day 3: The Spiritual Quest for Recognition
From infancy, we are wired to seek recognition and affirmation. This innate desire mirrors our spiritual journey of seeking God's face and presence. By finding our identity and worth in God's recognition, we align ourselves with His purpose and love. This quest is not about seeking validation from the world but about understanding our true value in the eyes of our Creator. [05:23]

Psalm 27:8 (ESV): "You have said, 'Seek my face.' My heart says to you, 'Your face, Lord, do I seek.'"

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you seek recognition. How can you shift your focus to seeking God's face and finding your worth in His presence?


Day 4: Embracing Others as Image Bearers
Seeing others as image bearers of God is a profound spiritual practice. It challenges us to move beyond superficial judgments and embrace the divine in each individual. By recognizing the image of God in others, we cultivate compassion and connection, fostering a community that reflects God's love and grace. This practice calls us to see beyond appearances and honor the divine spark within every person. [09:29]

Genesis 1:27 (ESV): "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Reflection: Think of someone you find difficult to connect with. How can you intentionally recognize and honor the image of God in them today?


Day 5: Seeking the Color Purple in Every Moment
The call to look for the "color purple" is a reminder to seek God's presence in both ordinary and extraordinary moments. Just as Jesus bore the color purple in His sacrifice, we are encouraged to immerse others in the Trinitarian presence, enveloping them in God's love and grace. This practice invites us to live with a heightened awareness of God's presence, transforming our interactions and experiences. [10:52]

Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV): "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Reflection: As you go through your day, identify a moment where you can intentionally seek God's presence. How can this practice of looking for the "color purple" deepen your spiritual journey?

Quotes


the invitation today is look for god expect god search for him be open to him there's a section in ellis walker's book the color purple where she writes this is a bit of a paraphrase i think it takes god off when people go through a field where there's purple and they don't notice people think all god cares about is us pleasing god and we do not notice how ceaselessly the world pleases us or seeks to please us how god puts beauty purple everywhere and we just we don't notice it we don't notice him [00:25:12]

we're walking through very near the end now of renovation of the heart dallas willard's book and he talks about how this is the great task taken from the words of jesus himself where jesus says now as you're going through the world make disciples make apprentices help people sign up in the great project of being with me to learn from me how to live like me in in my power and then uh in the text normally it's translated baptizing people in the name of the father and the son and the holy spirit but dallas talks about the notion of baptizing you know is to immerse or to have something be surrounded by [01:03:31]

dallas says the idea is not just that you're supposed to dunk people in water or sprinkle them depending on your review of baptism but you are to immerse them in the reality in the presence of the trinity here's what he writes this stage has to do with immersing the apprentices into the trinitarian presence inhabiting and then closing the group once we have a group of apprentices to jesus this is the single major component of a local congregation's prospering in spiritual formation the teaching god father son and holy spirit in their midst [02:41:36]

it is not a human work thank god this is not just up to us although it constantly is an interaction with uh the human work of learning to do what it is that jesus teaches us the presence of god in the midst is the only sure mark of the true ecclesia of the true um congregation of people who are following jesus we ought to expect it to be a place where the divine life and power is manifestly present to glorify god and meet the needs of repentant human beings [03:20:80]

recognition is the first human quest after an ordinary delivery after the first few startled cries newborn infants typically spent an hour or so in the stage doctors call quiet alert though they can only focus their vision roughly eight to twelve inches away their eyes are wide open they are searching with an instinct far deeper than intention they're looking with their whole heart they're looking for a face and when they find one especially a face that gazes back at them they fix their eyes on it having found what they were most urgently looking for [04:52:32]

recognition is the primary task of infancy feeding crying even sleeping are just the support system for the most essential work of figuring out who we are and somehow we were made designed by god to do this when a little infant finds another set of eyes another face that will hold the infant's gaze that will stare back and communicate to the infant a sense of recognition that you matter a recognition of what it is that that little infant is feeling [06:04:88]

we were made to look for god and to see his face now how do we do this well amazingly enough probably the primary way that we immerse uh probably the primary way that we are immersed in the trinitarian presence is when we seek to immerse other people in the presence of the trinity when we seek to bless them all day long as we walk through the world when we look at beauty when you hear the sound of a bird when you see a leaf on a tree or the sunlight dabbled against it or the color purple we are able we are called to remember god is here god is here god is here [08:33:12]

andy writes about a kind of spiritual exercise one day he was at the o'hare airport and he had nothing to do so he took a long walk through all the concourses and every time he would see a person he would say to himself image bearer to remember that this person bears the image of god an old man shuffling slowly through the airport somebody waited down by a heavy backpack a woman in a sari somebody weaning a stroller with a little baby in it tsa workers image bearer image bearer image bearer [09:15:44]

it's amazing to me how easily i can look at people uh as paul says through the eyes of the flesh and just judge them how are they dressed how functional do they look how old they're young how healthy or not healthy are they attractive or not attractive and be quite judgmental and it's such an amazing thing to just look at people and say image bearer image bearer image bearer so that's the invitation today [09:48:24]

look for the color purple you know in the ancient world in the bible it was a sign of royalty or majesty we are told in the gospel of john chapter 19 verse 2 that when jesus had been arrested and had been tried and was about to be crucified in order to mock him soldiers placed john says a purple robe on him god himself bears the color purple although in mockery and humiliation for our sake so that we could see the king present in our midst [10:18:40]

as i go through this day like a little baby is gazing for another face that can tell me i'm a person i look for the presence of god to remind me my life matters my life matters to god and especially i try to immerse other people into the trinitarian presence that's what it means to baptize people in the name of the father son and spirit immerse them in the presence of god and i find as i do that as i try to love as i try to bless as i try to notice as i try to see i myself am immersed in that presence [10:52:48]

we live today look for the color purple guard your heart see you next time [11:24:40]

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Transcript
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