This Is Who God Is

God’s Word tells us that those who trust in Him will spend eternity in celebration. In this eternal celebration of God, we will sing words like those spoken in Revelation 15:3-4:

“Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!

Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!

Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?

For you alone are holy.

All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

This is our God! This is who He is! This is why we love Him and worship Him.

Fatherhood

Those of us who are fathers have a wonderful privilege and awesome responsibility. We contributed DNA, with physical, emotional, and mental attributes. But, initially we don’t have much say in which of these attributes come forth in our offspring. We then have the responsibility to assist our children to grow up to be the kind of person who is respected and admirable.

Deuteronomy 32:6 speaks of God and says, “Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?” When God created each of us, He formed us with just the right attributes and abilities that He wanted us to possess. It is only right that we should want to become more like Him. We can choose to follow in His steps or to reject His work in our lives. Submitting to His work in our lives brings us much joy, godliness, and fulfillment of His purposes.

Fully Equipped

Have you ever watched someone with great skill and wished that you could do that? In fact, there are many skills that I wish that I possess or could obtain. I never learned how to do basic home or car repairs. I never learned to play a musical instrument. While these abilities would be awesome to possess, I also desire to do many good things that help people, but feel that I don’t possess the internal qualities and skills to help in meaningful ways.

Hebrews 13:20-21 says, “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to who be glory forever and ever. Amen.” When God gives us something to do, He equips us with the good talents and character traits that are need for the task. In that way, God’s will is done in us as well as through us, which pleases God. Therefore, if and when God reveals to me that someone has a need, He can give me the internal qualities and skills to do the good that He desires.

Incorrect Sense of Self

I see it all the time. Someone comes into my life on a casual basis and seems to make a show of everything. They walk arrogantly into a room and then spout the most prideful of words. They often treat other people with contempt or by looking down on them in some way. Further examination, however, often reveals what they are hiding. They may be acquiring material things in an effort to demonstrate wealth that is not there. They may also present advice that they themselves are not following. It is all a show that is not based in reality nor truth.

II Corinthians 1:12 says, “For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.” We should simplify our lives in Christ and the gospel message by avoiding the complications brought on by accumulating worldly goods and ideas. Then, the sincerity of our beliefs may be exhibited by the absence of pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy.

Lucky Coincidence or Something Better?

Have you ever had the experience of driving down the road and an accident happens behind or next to you? You may have thought that you were just fortunate to have missed the damage. But could something more have been at work? Perhaps, you need to consider that God saw the danger coming and moved you in a way to miss the trouble. Sometimes, we go through life so busy that we fail to consider loftier notions and important truths.

Psalm 28:7 says, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” As our shield, God defends, guards, protects, safeguards, and keeps us secure from danger. But He also, intervenes in imminent danger before it can harm us. If we ignore or reject His presence, we are in danger of nullifying His protection and proceeding directly into trouble.