Merciful is our God

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One of the names or attributes readily associated with God is Mercy. God is by nature merciful. God in His mercy does not give us what our sins deserve. He limits the extent of pain we experience and restrains evil. He holds back sin and makes His gospel known in places and to people who have turned their backs upon Him. God seeks those who are lost, alone, hurting and in need. He forgives and restores those who repent and turn to Him in faith. God’s merciful character is shown in his compassion as He desires to relieve our suffering and is tenderhearted toward his children.

Scripture speaks of God’s merciful character. Ephesians 2:4-5 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—” The greatest example of God’s mercy is what He did by sending Jesus to redeem us and reconcile us so we can have a relationship with Him. Consider John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus called his followers friends, and he gave his life so I can live eternally with Him. I love the way Titus 3:4-7 explains it. “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

There are many passages where the authors of scripture were lead to tell us about the mercy of God. I love Psalm 103:3-5″who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” What a gracious and loving God to do all of that for me!

Peter, expresses his love for God’s mercy in 1 Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

What about you and me? I know I can depend upon God’s character and His promise of mercy when I go to Him in prayer! Hebrews 4:16 “ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” We can always pray with confidence that God wants to hear from us and will comfort and guide us as we seek to follow Him.

We can rely upon God’s mercy! Psalm 116:5 “Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. It is who God is-merciful and loving.” Joel sought to console the Israelites and reassure them of God’s merciful character in Joel 2:12-13. “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,    “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;13     and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,    for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
    and he relents over disaster.”

If we seek God with a humble contrite heart, we can be assured of His mercy towards us. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know the mercy of God in my life and depend upon His loving care.

Linda

Freedom comes from God

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On this day of remembrance for the sacrifices people made on 9/11 in New York, I was considering the name or attribute of Freedom for God. This name is most closely associated with the Holy Spirit and Jesus rather than God the Father. It is also linked to God’s Word. The idea of freedom in scripture is pointed towards our bondage to sin, sin nature that we received when Adam and Eve sinned and were put out of the Garden of Eden. Until that time man had communed and walked with God, but after eating from the tree of good and evil they were barred from the garden, so that they would no eat of the tree of life and thereby seal their fate of sinfulness for life. God made a way through Jesus for us to be reconciled to Him, and it is this plan that we study and seek to understand in the Bible. God’s plan is for us to be restored to communion with Him.

So how does one shed the bondage to sin? There is only 1 way. Faith in Jesus’ work on the cross as He died to take our sins away. Jesus tells us in John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This is explained in Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 8:34 “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” 2 Corinthians 5:14 “
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.”

Scripture is clear that belief in Jesus brings freedom. Jesus had a discussion in Johns 8:31-36 about this freedom. “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Jesus promises that everyone who knows the Son will be freed from sins bondage and payment which is death and will receive eternal life. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I also love Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” In Luke 4:18 Jesus told the people that the Spirit of the Lord was in Him and that His mission was to bring freedom to all who were bound by sin. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.”

Christ brings freedom, represents freedom, for the believer, but so does the indwelling Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17 “ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” The Holy Spirit brings freedom through faith in Jesus into our lives!

The Word of God also brings freedom. Psalm 119:44-45 “I will always obey your law,
    for ever and ever. 45 I will walk about in freedom,  for I have sought out your precepts.” Living by and studying God’s Word leads us to greater freedom in Him. James also tells us in James 1:25 “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” Looking, studying His Word brings blessing and freedom.

Even though I might not give God the name of freedom, I see it as a by product of knowing and believing in Jesus. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know freedom from sin which allows me to commune with God and not worry about sin’s penalty which is death. That is FREEDOM indeed!

Linda

Steadfast Love

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Thinking about God’s characteristic of Steadfast Love brings hope and assurance to my heart. The concept of having steadfast love is something we as humans cannot attain. As much as we try to love others with steadfastness- a love that shows loyalty, unswerving devotion and commitment, immovable love that is not subject to change- we cannot. It is not in our nature to be able to be able to do this -BUT God is totally capable of loving us with steadfast love. We know from scripture that God does not lie or change his mind. Numbers 23:19 “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Hebrews 13:8 “ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” We can count on God’s unchanging character to assure that His steadfast love is always true.

God’s steadfast love has some interesting aspects and scripture gives us some insight into this type of love.

Psalm 86:5 “For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
    abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.” Here we have assurance that God’s steadfast love is available to all who ask for it, and it comes from His great goodness and forgiving nature.

Psalm 117:1-2 “Praise the Lord, all nations!
    Extol him, all peoples!
2 For great is his steadfast love toward us,
    and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!” Here we are assured that God’s steadfast love is aimed right at us and given towards us. What a powerful image of His love directed exactly towards us even though we are sinners. I am reminded of the truth of Romans 5:8-9 “ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”

Psalm 118:1 “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!” The previous verse also touched on the fact that God’s steadfast love is eternal. He is eternal and all his characteristics are also eternal! Psalm 90:1-2 proclaim God’s eternality, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Being eternal we can count on His steadfast love always being available and pointed towards us.

Psalm 107 and Psalm 136 are whole psalms about the steadfast love of God. The rhythm of Psalm 136 always makes me smile. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
    for his steadfast love endures forever; 4 to him who alone does great wonders,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;…. You cannot read the entirety of this psalm, or even a portion, without smiling over God’s steadfast love for us!

As I looked farther into God’s steadfast love, I saw examples throughout scripture of evidence of this type of love He promises towards us. Here are a few of the characters I found where God showed His steadfast love as an example for us to reference, learn from and depend upon as they relate to us as humans!

Joseph- Genesis 39:21 “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” Joseph had some hard times and God stayed right there with him!

Job – Job 10:12 “You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.” Job suffered mightily for the Lord and was preserved though it all.

David- 2 Samuel 2:5-7 “David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, “May you be blessed by the Lord, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord and buried him. 6 Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you because you have done this thing. 7 Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant, for Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.” David waited 14 years to be anointed king and did not take Saul’s life even when he had the opportunity but waited for God’s timing. God showed love to David again and again!

Ezra- Ezra 7:27-28 “ Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, 28 and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me. God turned the hearts of the pagan king so that Ezra could return with people to Jerusalem. Only with God was this possible!

Man is not capable of the full steadfastness and faithfulness of God, but God grants the idea and desire for us to strive to love others with this kind of godly love. Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to think and act this way. 2 Thessalonians 1:2-4 “ We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,” In and through Jesus, we have the hope of Christ and His steadfast love within us towards others! Thank you Jesus.

Later in his letter to Timothy, Paul confides in Timothy the solidness of pursing godly attributes in our lives. 1 Timothy 6:11 “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” James tells us of the great need for this in our character to be able to walk with Jesus and stand the test of the trials that come with faith. James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” I love the fact that James tells us perusing steadfastness of character comes with blessings from God. This is such an encouragement.

I pray that this study of steadfast love helps you to see how even though we are sinners we too through Christ can have steadfast love and character in Him. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know, experience and live with God’s steadfast love in me. It is His love that shines out to others to draw them to Him!

Linda

God is Established-what about you?

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The characteristic of God that I’m looked at today is God being established. Established from our English dictionary means something or someone who is accepted or recognized by many people, like customs or traditions, or successful for a long period of time and widely known, like an author, company or credentials of experts, or growing or flourishing successfully, like a plant, and it is used in connection with church or religion being established. As I look at these definitions, God being established actually fits each type of definition but in the ultimate sense. He is beyond acceptance by just a few as scripture tells us that even the rocks cry out proclaiming Him as God. He will not be denied being known. He is eternal and constantly causing us to grow in Him.

Psalm 93:1-2 “The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty;
    the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
2 Your throne is established from of old;
    you are from everlasting.” Here we see both God’s eternal reign as established and its immovable quality!

Psalm 103:19 “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
    and his kingdom rules over all.” This psalm tells us where He reigns- the extent of His kingdom includes both heaven and earth as all are under His rule!

Isaiah 33:5-6 “The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high;
    he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness,
6 and he will be the stability of your times,
    abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge;
    the fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.” Isaiah tells us that the Lord’s established kingdom is one where justice and righteousness reign, it is stable and there is salvation, wisdom and knowledge available in Him. What a wonderful place!

God’s kingdom is established and His reign is eternal, however, like other attribute or characteristics of God He desires to share some of it with us. David was called ‘a man after God’s own heart’ Acts 13:22 “After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ God established his kingly lineage for all eternity. Jesus was to come from his line. 2 Samuel 7:15-17 “ but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.” Many of the later kings did not follow God, but God was faithful to his promise to David and Abraham that ‘all people’ will be blessed by them through the Messiah. Jesus’ lineage is recorded in Matthew 1. When God establishes something, it is done and we can count on it through eternity!

Besides David’s line, God also establishes each of us! When we know Jesus, we belong to Him and Psalm 37:23 will definitely apply to us. “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;” Are you striving to walk with Jesus each day and obey His ways? Then be encouraged as you are established by God and He is taking delight in you!! Paul and Peter go on to tell us that knowing Jesus allows us to be established in our faith and rooted and built up in Him! The result will be thanksgiving. 2 Corinthians 2:6-7 “ Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Peter wants us to accept our place with Jesus and be secure in the knowledge that God has done this work in us and will continue to do it each day! 2 Peter 1:11-12 “For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.”

I rejoice in the idea that my faith in Jesus establishes me with God for eternity!!! Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am established by Him and with Him for all eternity. Rejoice with me today in this truth and seek to let His established light within you shine for others to see!

Linda

God is Strong

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One of the most wonderful characteristics of our Lord is His Strength. As I meditated upon this characteristic of God, I saw that His strength is His alone as Almighty, Sovereign God and also that like other characteristics He desires to give His strength to us who believe in Him.

His Alone- Job 36: 5 “Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding.” 1 Corinthians 1:25 “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” By His actions of Creation, judgment, and intervention in the plans of men over the generations we see His power and strength displayed.

His to pass on and share with us- this is preciously described in multiple ways in scripture. Moses proclaims his strength to lead the people comes from the Lord and He praises Him for it. Exodus 15:2 “The Lord is my strength and my song,
    and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”

David proclaims his dependance upon God many times in the Psalms. Psalm 28:7-8 “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.” Psalm 28:8 “The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.” Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 73:261 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” I love reading these passages as it reminds me that I am not doing what I’m doing in my own strength!

Nehemiah reminds the people as they desire to celebrate where their strength to accomplish God’s work came from. Nehemiah 8:10  Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Isaiah gives us a No Fear message in Isaiah 41:10. “Fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” We are not to rely upon our own strength but lean into God as His righteous right hand = Jesus will always be there for us and with us!

Micah also points us to Jesus who will be our shepherd and guide and give us His strength for living! Micah 5:4 “And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.”

In the New Testament, the apostles often point us to how God uses His strength to enable us to live and work for Him. Acts 14:22 “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” He strengthens our very souls!

Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” He gives us a portion of His might to sustain us in the trials of life.

Peter who knew the strengthening and restoration of Jesus first hand tell us in 1 Peter 5:10 “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can depend upon the strength of the Lord to see me through the trials and temptations of daily living as He alone can restore, confirm and establish me!

May your day be filled with His strength and power!

Linda

God is Judge, NO Fear for the Believer

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One of the attributes of God that we don’t like to think about is that God is judge. When we think of judgement we often think of all the things we have done wrong- like being a criminal receives judgement. However, judgement is part of God’s plan and is ALWAYS fair and impartial as God is a just Judge. Psalm 9:7-8 “But the Lord sits enthroned forever;
    he has established his throne for justice,
8 and he judges the world with righteousness;
    he judges the peoples with uprightness.” God as creator has to position of judge over all mankind. We are assured that He will judge with righteousness. Psalm 145:17 goes on to add that his judgement includes kindness. “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.”

We are also told by Isaiah and James that God is our king and savior. Isaiah 33:22 “For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us.” James 4:12 “There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?”

How do we reconcile Judge with compassion and judgement? Isaiah 30:18 and Jeremiah 9:24 help us in our thinking. “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,
    and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
    blessed are all those who wait for him.” and Jeremiah 9:24 “but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Unlike man, God is both compassionate and just as well a impartial. We cannot be those things but God can!

We know that God hates sin and will judge the sinner. 1 John 1:9 gives us a way back into God’s graces though faith in Jesus and His work on the cross. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confession and repentance are essential to receiving God’s forgiveness of our sins. It is why Jesus came to reconcile us to God and provide a way. Romans 5:10 puts it this way, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”

So what of judgement for the Christian believer who knows the forgiveness and reconciliation of Christ? We can lean on the grace and mercy of our impartial God. We will not be judged for our sins, as our sins are forgiven, but we will be held accountable for what we have done for Him in our lives. Romans 3:19 describes the judgment of the unbeliever as they are under the law of God.
“Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.” We who know Christ are under the law of grace!! Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Thank you Jesus for your provision of grace and mercy!

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am freed from God’s judgement and live under His grace and mercy! What a wonderful provision this is and lifts the burden of guilt and shame that we bear for our sins. Keep short accounts with God and daily ask His forgiveness for until we are in heaven with Him we live in a world filled with sin and its temptations. Look to Jesus and walk with Him each day!

Linda

Life- it comes from God in all ways!

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One of the attributes of God we don’t often think about is Life. God is ldfe and the source of all life. He created life as we know it along with the heavens and the earth. Remember the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve dwelt and communed with God? He created a tree of life within the garden. Genesis 2:9 “And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Adam and Eve were instructed by God concerning these trees:  Genesis 2:16-17 “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of good and evil they were banished from the garden so that they could not eat from the tree of life and then be condemned to live forever in their sinful state. God mercifully protected them as He had a plan for their return to Him.

Today we can partake of the tree of life though faith in Jesus, faith in His redeeming work on the cross. John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” God did not want to leave us helpless and lost. His plan of redemption restores us to the life, His life within us. John gives us several other passages that confirm this truth that life now comes through Jesus. John 1:3-4 “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” John 3:36 “ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” John 14:6 “ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus provides life and a pathway out of sin described in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Thank you Jesus!!

We can expand our thoughts of life to include each aspect of life and see it comes from Him. The pathways of life are in Him. Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 36:9 “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.” David saw this aspect of God’s character and relied upon Him. Psalm 54:4 “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.” David realized that all life comes from God and that God upholds us.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can have life in God and with God while still here on earth- in this life He has given me. Praise God for His glorious provision and plan for you and me! I pray that the thought of God as life gives you hope and strength for what you are facing today.

Linda

God as Our Guide, YES!

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One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 58:11. A friend pointed me to this verse and it sooths my soul as it speaks of God as our constant Guide in life. “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places
    and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” I love the image and truth that His guidance leads me to places where He will fulfill my needs in spite of my circumstances and that I will perceive my existence as that of a well-watered garden. A well watered garden is one that is loved and cared for, nurtured in and out of season. My God treats me like that! God being my guide in life is one of the most profound characteristics of God. He takes a personal interest in His creation = that is me and you!

Here are some other verses that speak of God’s guidance in our lives. Psalm 25:4-5 “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” As our guide, God teaches us and gives salvation to which my response is to patiently wait on God’s timing. Sometimes, not so patiently, but we know that God’s ways are not our ways and that His timing is different than ours. He sees the whole picture and knows where things are headed and in what order things need to happen. Psalm 32:8 adds another perspective, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” We can be assured that God is watching and knows what is happening in our lives! Psalm 48:14 adds another assurance to God’s guidance. “that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.” We may not understand God’s timing but we can know that it is eternal and He will never stop being our guide.

Those verses were all from the Old Testament but God continues His role as guide in the New Testament. Jesus is our guide. He spoke of himself in the gospels and showed us ways to God that we could follow. He gave us 7 ‘I AM’s in the book of John, revealing aspects of himself that show His heart, love and guidance in our lives. John 6:35 “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 8:12 “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 10:9 “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,” John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” In these 7 I AM statements Jesus revealed himself in direct ways to guide us to Him so that we can abide in Him in faith. Which of these is most meaningful to you?

God also revealed Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit after Jesus’ return to heaven. Jesus told us about this in John 16:13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

Guide is an extremely important character trait for us to see in God. He assures us of this in both the Old and New Testaments and lets us know that it will continue until the end of time. God is forever and all His character attributes endure forever. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can be assured that God will guide me though His Word and Spirit until I come home to Him. I can rely upon Him and look to Him for guidance 24/7. Thanks be to God!

Linda

God’s Unending Grace

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Amazingly enough, during my 6 weeks of blogging during Lent I did not write about God’s grace. It touches so many aspects of His character and is so very precious to every believer. The Bible is filled with references to this phenomena known as God’s grace. There are many aspects to it and books have been written on it. Here is a brief glimpse into the importance and meaning of God’s Gracious character. By definition God’s grace is God’s kindness to those who do not deserve it. God is slow to anger and longs to forgive his people. His grace in salvation powerfully reaches out to us and makes us alive in Christ when we were dead in sin. God shows grace to all people- life, sunshine, rain, music, talents, etc. as good gifts even to people who do not love Him. God wants all mankind to have look at His grace and this is what is called common grace. All of us get to experience some of the goodness of our God.

How many times have good things happened you did not expect and were purely from the hand of God due to His grace? God owns his grace and can give it as He sees fit. Exodus 33:19 “And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” We can’t tell God- Hey! it is time for some grace. No, He give is as He sees fit, in His place and His time. I do believe that someday we will see how each piece of His grace He bestowed upon us fits perfectly with what we needed right then.

One of the most beautiful blessings is given in Numbers 6:22-25 “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, 24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Often pastors use this blessing to send people out for the week as it gives comfort, hope and assurance that God will be with us and will be gracious each and every day. We just need to look for it and He will show us His grace!

David often pleaded with God to bestow His grace upon him. When he was troubled, he sought God’s kindness, even though he knew he did not deserve it. Psalm 25:16-18 “Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
    bring me out of my distresses.18 Consider my affliction and my trouble,
    and forgive all my sins.” We too can call upon God’s gracious character and see His grace upon our lives. God loves to hear from us and will listen and respond to those who are sincere. However, God is not a cosmic bell boy just waiting for us to call. God always responds to our cries but not always in the way we think He should. We have to trust Him on this.

The New Testament speaks of God’s grace being fully revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. John 1:16-17 “ For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” That grace also bring us to Jesus and allows us to be saved. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” We did nothing to deserve God’s rescue of us. We did not earn it at all. God saved us because of His great love for us as He tell us in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” His saving us through sending Jesus to redeem us was pure Grace on His part!

One of my favorite verses is 2 Corinthians 12:9. It speaks to me of the great grace of God and how I can rely upon His grace to give me all that I need in every situation. “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” God’s grace is unending, deep, fathomless and pure. He has more to give than I will ever need-hence sufficient. That means no matter what the circumstances we face, He alone is enough to meet our needs. I don’t need to worry that I might use up God’s grace as His grace, like His character is limitless. He can meet my needs if I lean into Him and look to Him for that sustaining power only He can provide through His grace

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know and receive God’s grace in my life that brings fullness and assurance to each and every day. May it be so for you too!

Linda

Elohim, Creator God

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Today’s name for God is Creator or Elohim. The Hebrew name carries with it the meaning of Creator God, all powerful and mighty not just one who is able to create. Creator God is seen throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. God created the world in the beginning and He continues to create within us as He transforms us through His Holy Spirit.

Let’s start at the beginning and all that was created was created by God. Genesis 1:1 “ In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Later in Psalm 19:1 the psalmist describes this work of God. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Creation involved the physical world we see on earth and in the heavens above. Nehemiah also describes God’s creation in Nehemiah 9:6 “You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.” He reminds us of God’s power to not only create but to preserve and how those in heavens worship Him.

Paul goes a bit farther in Colossians 1:16 when he adds the dominions, rulers, thrones or authorities. God is creator of all the systems of earth and they are under his control, He is sovereign over all- creation man and beast. “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.” The sovereignty of God is important as God did not only create all things but they are under His direction and control. Consider Isaiah 45:7 “I form light and create darkness;  I make well-being and create calamity;
    I am the Lord, who does all these things.” and Acts 17:26 “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,” All that is or was made or will be made are done at God’s directions. That means God can and does use any power on earth to accomplish His will.

Let’s get more specific about creation and direct it towards man. Psalm 139:13-16 makes it clear that we are known to God even before we are born and are created by Him. “For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.” It is humbling and comforting to know that God made me who I am and has a plan and a purpose for me. Jeremiah 29:11 always brings a smile to my face. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

One of the plans and purposes God has for each of us is to know Him and His Son, Jesus. When we accept Jesus as God’s son and the work of redemption He performed on the cross, we become a child of God and have His spirit within us. Both David and Ezekiel spoke of this transformation before Christ came. Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Ezekiel 11:19 “And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.” Faith in Jesus leads us to Ephesians 1:13 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,” Knowing Christ brings a permanent sealing by the Holy Spirit into a new life in Him. We are new creations, 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Praise God!

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can have new life created within me, a new spirit from God. Thank you Jesus for making this possible. As Revelation 4:11 states, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they existed and were created.” Amen.

Linda