Notes from this week's podcast: Jo & Sydney: In the Image of God, for the Glory of God

Jo: There is one principle that God used in the Garden of Eden to help Adam and Eve get their home in order. And that same principle is alive, active, and effective today to help us get [our] home in order. And when they get their home in order, to maintain that order

Sydney: We want to reflect God's glory in our family. God has a design for that. 

When we know who we are in Christ, we don't have to fight for significance, for our worth, our voice, identity. We don't have to look at culture or career or title, the children we have, our husband, our social media following or comments or anything to know that we have value. God has spoken. We have His Word and we know we're secure in who He says we are. And, we're free to stop fighting and to start really loving, serving, and becoming the person He's created us to be. He has a design, an order, and it's laid out in the Word. 

Abide in Christ, under His authority, His order, and how that changes the way that we live, love, and lead and follow Him and raise our families ultimately. 

We're created in the image of God. 

Jo: That's freeing. If we do what you just said, that is freedom. 

Sydney: As we come up under God's Word, there is freedom. And once you taste that, you desire that for our world. That's what He offers us. 

Jo: When you taste that freedom, when you trust God, His Word, that freedom is such a release; it's a place you want to go. That freedom is what gets you out of bondage to the world. 

Sydney: Do we trust Him --  in who He says that we are?

We're made in the image of God. What does that word "image" mean?

Jo: It means that back in the beginning God was out in Heaven and He looked down in the universe, created Earth and on Earth created humans -- man and woman. He created them just for Himself so that He could be in a relationship with them and they could be in a relationship with Him. 

"I created them in My likeness"/ "in My image" = to be related to Him, to stay in His shadow. Why? So that we look like Him. Why? So we know how to love Him, so that we can receive His love. That is how simple life was to be. 

Sydney: We are so loved. 

Jo: We are that special to God. 

Sydney: Where are you finding your worth?

Jo: That's how much God loves us! 

We have freedom to choose, but yet God's already chosen us to be in relationship with Him, to love Him. So, how do we do that?

Sydney: We're created to reflect Him, to be mirrors of Him in our families, our day-to-day world. We're made to reflect God's character and to reflect Him as King and Creator. 

Jo: How do we know how to do that? We've got to stay in relationship with Him, know Him, receive His love. So we allow Him to lay those steps, that order out for us so we know what His character is so we know how to reflect it. So therefore, we know how to live a life that brings Him glory. 

We just laid the foundation of what life is all about. We laid the foundation for what our home is all about. We laid the foundation for how we can step forward to bring a life that truly is a life of peace. We want to build on this foundation. 

Sydney: Being mirrors of God in our homes, what does that look like? What does God's Word say? His parameters bring peace every time. 

In culture, we've veered away a lot from God's Word. 

Jo: The enemy wants us out of relationship with God. 

Sydney: We want to mirror His order, His love that He has mapped out that will bring Him glory. 

Scripture tells a different story [than our culture]. God is a God of order and intentionality. He creates beautiful structured harmony. When we fight His design, or in rebellion of it, we lose the blessing, the glory of reflecting Him to the world. 

What does "submit" mean?

Jo: Submit to: lean in to God to protect you, so God can hover over you -- getting back in that relationship with God, to stay in His shadow, so He can protect what He has designed for your life. 

Sydney: Let's think of protection. It's out of God's desire to protect us. 

(Regarding men) Verse 25: Be a servant, to sacrificially love the people placed in his care. There is nothing dominating, scary or toxic. It's beautiful. As men, out of their love for Christ, sacrificially loving the people God has placed under them. 

Jo: Love >> so that God can give everything of Himself to us that we need. 

How is that they know how to lead? Because they're in relationship with God. They're loving God and God is loving on them. God has put within them what they need. 

Wives love your husbands >> Give to your husband what He needs. Give him the platform and the opportunity to do that. 

Sometimes, your husband's failure can be their best asset. Sometimes, we have to get out of the way and allow our husbands to fail. God's right there, He can catch them. God wants them to lean to Him. To love your husband is to give to your husband and sometimes it's uncomfortable. 

Sydney: (Regarding women)

"Ezer" - help coming from the Lord

Allowing your husband the space to lead, to fail, not trying to be God in their life -- help him spiritually. (Are you a launch pad or a lid?/ suffocating?)

Jo: I have learned to go talk to God about it first. 

 Sydney: If we're resting: God, I'm secure in You. My husband doesn't define my value. 

Jo: How can we do that? Back to that relationship (with God)

"God, if it needs to be spoken, would you go speak it to Him?" 

Sydney: Following takes strength. "God, I trust You more than my own desires." 

Jo: You yielded to what the Holy Spirit was telling you to do. The enemy wants to snatch it. Watch God bring the victory. 

Sydney: Rely on God's strength in you to follow, to help, to love, come up under your husband. 

We're made in the image of God -- made to reflect Him. We're made to be mirrors, to reflect His character -- to reflect Him as King and Creator. God's Word says it. Let's do it. 

We are made to bring glory to God -- a man fulfilling his role; a woman fulfilling her role.

Jo: There's nothing more fulfilling in life. In your role, through your relationship with God, that is where you become satisfied. 

Sydney: As men and women do this in the home (knowing their identity in Christ, submitting to what God says), this seeps down into our children. Freedom. Protection. Teach this to our children, to obey out of love of God. 

Jo: The more you trust God, the more you'll obey God. 

Scripture for further study: Ephesians 5:21-25, 28, 31-32a; 1 Timothy 5:8, 1 Corinthians 16:13; Genesis 2:18; Proverbs 21:19