Important for 'formation'

NORSK
After many years of involvement with the “Folk-High-School” movement, the word "formation" has become part of my spinal cord. In Norwegian formation forms the root of the word which translates “education” in English. Even though there is a clear link, there is also a big difference between the two. Education is often associated with a subject or a course that we follow for a limited period. Formation is an ongoing and life-long process. The Swedes use the word ‘bildning’ similar to the German ‘Bildung’, which translates “imaging”. In other words: the formation of an image.

In a Christian context this becomes the formation of the image of God in us. The many creeds have a place in the formation. Paul quotes several of them in the letters to Timothy and I have looked at some of them already (1). 

Today I read:

Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
if we are faithless,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.
2 Tim 2:11-13

I am convinced that the reminder Paul sent to Timothy, was a creed Timothy already knew by heart. Paul confirmed that it as a trustworthy saying – which means a saying that is worthy of trust.

An important part of my formation both in elementary school and Sunday school, was the learning of Bible verses and Christian hymns by heart. These ‘trustworthy sayings’ became an important ‘carry on luggage’ to bring with me into adolescence and further on into adult life. The formation, or 'imaging' is still taking place, so that step by step his image may become visible.

'Manna' for today:

Formation is also taking place through reading and writing!

--------------------------------
(1) E.g. "A Christmas Creed"

It is about knowing, as in…. #1

NORSK
I am going to play on the word knowing for a couple of days. The chorus I quoted yesterday contains the word, which in Norwegian can have at least three interpretations, and since all are important when I explore the well of holiness. The line I am referring to is:

“Be at rest and know that I am the Lord!”

Today, it is about knowing as in “learning”, meaning seeking knowledge about the Lord. If I want to be holy, I need to know as much as possible about the Lord. There are several ways of doing that. A good way is to start early, as in the example of Timothy:

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Tim 3:14-17  

I was fortunate to have this kind of upbringing, and I praise God for it. If you have not been in the same position, the well I drank from – “All Scripture” = The Bible – is still available as the most important source to give knowledge about God and his holiness. 

The process of knowing should never stop with knowledge about God – therefore all the aspects of knowing needs to be explored, but we should never forget the importance of learning:

Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Prov 22:6  

‘Manna’ for today:

Learning is an important part of knowing!

--------------------------------