A Thought For The Week Of September 5

We "have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator." (Colossians 3:10) The idea of renewal is not an uncommon one for Christians. In fact, it's fair to see that we understand the work of God as being to renew the creation - which means all of creation, including us. But I find this an interesting way of phrasing things: "that we are being "renewed in knowledge after the image of [God.]" We are being constantly changed, and apparently one thing that is being changed is our knowledge. I wonder if this means that we are coming to know more, or that we are coming to know in a different way? Certainly as our relationship with God deepens, we come to a better understanding of God's ways and God's priorities and God's plans and God's calling on our lives. This type of renewed knowledge (a better understanding of God) impacts the way we relate to everything around us. First, this renewed knowledge humbles us. Sometimes knowledge can puff us up and make us think that we actually know more than we really do. But to be renewed in knowledge in this way is a humbling thing - reminding us that, in fact, our human knowledge is very limited and that true knowledge and true wisdom only come from our relationship with and our closeness to God. This closeness to God results in a new self - and fills us with the knowledge that we must never be satisfied with the way things are (whether with ourselves or with the world) and that we must be constantly striving to create at least a vision of God's Kingdom on earth. This new self is constantly learning, constantly growing and constantly becoming more deeply intimate with the God who calls to us. This impacts our entire life, by reminding us that - as much as our society sometimes tells us otherwise - it's not always about us. Its about God; it's about others. Being renewed in knowledge forces us to look at the world through a different lens - and allows us to see ourselves and those around us as God sees us and as God wants us to be. It helps us look for the best rather than the worst; it encourages us to see possibilities rather than limits.