What is God like?

 

Soon into my Christian life I realized that my concept of God was more like my human Father than the God of the Bible revealed in Jesus Christ. My parents were told I would not live past sixteen years, so they tended to over-protect me, give me whatever I wanted, and treat me with kid gloves. At first, I thought God would be like that, and in some ways He is, but not entirely.

God is far more than even the very best people. He does protect me. Soon after He saved me, He revealed this to me:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:28–29)

From that, I realized that nothing would happen to me that would harm me. If anything was not for my good, it simply would not happen. Not only that, this is God’s goal: that I become more and more like Jesus. I can remember the day that this was revealed to me and the joy that filled my heart.

But God does not always give me what I want. That old nature takes notions now and then of wanting what God forbids, or wanting what He knows would not be good for me. On the other hand, I can remember a few requests made to Him when I added, “Just because You love me” that He did grant that request. Again I experienced the joy of knowing God is generous and gracious, not to spoil me or have me treat Him as a genie in a bottle, but to always want the best for me.

He does not treat me with kid gloves. Well, He does in some ways. I’ve not experienced many horrible things that have happened to other Christians, like being burned at the stake, or beaten because of my faith, or mocked and ridiculed for trusting Christ. I’ve had sarcasm and verbal abuse only to a mild degree and I am thankful, but realize that this could increase. The most painful comes when people I love treat me as if I’m an idiot for trusting Jesus Christ. It hurts me, but much of that hurt is for their sake, not mine. My prayers are for them to know the Lord and the joy of knowing Him, not for them to believe so I will feel better.

My parents, because they thought I would not live, didn’t teach me much about life. That worked out to an advantage in that I’ve been eager to learn about life from Jesus Christ. He teaches me how to live from His Word and from the example of other Christians. I can thank Him for others who have loved me and in their life I could see the love of God and follow their example, loving them more, and others more, and Jesus more.

God also teaches me from the negatives. When I see people act in unloving ways that harm others, hurt feelings, or make me cringe, God is teaching me what not to do. This may sound like normal living for others, but for a child who was not taught how to live, every lesson is so important.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)

Yet even without good or bad examples, Jesus shines into hearts as the glory of God. He is enough to reveal the wonder of this God who loves us unconditionally.

PRAY: Lord, I’m tired from the process of moving, but energized from thinking about You and the very basics of Your love and care that are the foundation of my life. Thank You for being with me, in me, teaching and protecting, answering prayer, taking care of all needs. Yes Jesus, You are all I need.

Speaking truth in love

 

READ 1 Kings 18–22

Prophets were the black and white people in the OT. No compromise. Confrontational. Sent with truth to overcome lies and false prophets. In this reading, Elijah confronted Ahab, calling for a meeting with his false prophets in the presence of the people of Israel. He challenged the people: “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” They were speechless. (1 Kings 18:21) Then altars were set up. The prophet told the idol worshipers to call on their god to prove himself and mocked them when nothing happened. Then he turned to the altar dedicated to the Lord and prayed:

“O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”

The fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” (18:36–39)

At that the false prophets were seized and slaughtered. Elijah’s actions were related by the king to Jezebel his wife and she sent a threat to the prophet. He fled in fear, revealing that even those gifted to hear and proclaim truth from God had feet of clay. God didn’t let him stay in hiding for long. He told him to stand on a mountain before Him:

And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. (19:11–12)

This is often the way God speaks. This time, He told the prophet to anoint three leaders; Hazael in Syria, Jehu in Israel, and Elisha to be prophet in his place. He took Elisha under his mentor ship and did as he was told.

Later, another prophet urged Ahab to attack the threatening Syrians. He said, “Thus says the Lord, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the Lord” (20:13) and later, another man of God told him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The Lord is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’ ” (20:28)

Nevertheless, Ahab was like a spoiled child. He wanted a garden and the owner would not sell it. Ahab whined to his wife and Jezebel had the man killed so Ahab would have that vineyard. For this and for their sins, God told them they would pay the ultimate price (21:23–24) .

And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house.” (21:27–29)

Some are gifted to discerning God’s Word and confronting any who oppose it. As a Christian, I’m to “speak the truth in love” that God’s people “all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” and grow to maturity and the fullness of Christ, “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (Ephesians 4:13–16) However, in a world that interprets love as making others feel good about themselves and life in general, this is a challenge.

How does a sin-discerning Christian speak the truth in love when the truth hurts and the words don’t sound as if they are loving? One well-known author says that when God reveals truth, rather than spout it off to others who might need to hear it, take it back to the Lord in prayer, talking to God before saying anything. If He wants a confrontation, He will prepare the words and the way because He is the Author of both truth and love! I just need to see His mind and not take matters into my own hands.

 

I don’t have to focus on me . . .

 

 

READ Song of Solomon 1–4

Some theologians think Song of Solomon is a collection of love poems celebrating the intimate relationship in marriage, an appropriate expression of human sexuality. Others understand it as an illustration of the mutual love between Christ and His church, an allegory. Perhaps it is both.

Married people know how their spouse is not the same as Jesus, yet there are occasions when the delights of being in love with another person is like the emotions felt for the God of our salvation. Song of Solomon cannot be read without thinking of both the good parts and the challenges of being fifty years married and fifty years of belonging to Him as part of His church, also called the Bride of Christ. This poetic book does bring memories and thanksgiving for the best parts of being a wife and being in a love relationship with my Creator and Savior.

“Your love is better than wine . . . . we will exult and rejoice in you . . . . Behold you are beautiful, my beloved, truly delightful . . . . With great delight I sat in his shadow . . . . his banner over me was love . . . . My beloved speaks and says to me: ‘Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away’ . . . .  My beloved is mine, and I am his . . . . I will seek him whom my soul loves . . . . You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you . . . . You have captivated my heart . . . .” (taken from Song of Solomon)

A devotional writer notes things such as the bridegroom finds the bride attractive and uses word pictures or metaphors to describe his bride. For example, he calls her a lily among thorns. In other words, other maidens are like thorns in comparison to his beloved. The bride is made to feel special in the eyes of the bridegroom and superior to any other woman. Everything that applies to the bride can be said of the bridegroom. Such a loving relationship between a man and a woman is a great gift from God. Yet the greatest gift is the loving relationship between Christ and His people. Most of all, they desire each other and do not want to be apart.

The Bible calls me to love God with all my heart and soul. It also says:

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:9–12)

My love for others is the ‘faith test’ that reveals my love for Jesus. This is not a physical or emotional love but a love expressed by obedience to God. This is clear: we “come to know and to believe the love that God has for us” and in that understanding, the response is returning that love by sticking close to Him, listening to what He says and gladly doing what He asks.

“God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.” (1 John 4:16–17)

Romantic love ebbs and flows and our culture is stuck on the idea that when those feelings vanish, we no longer love that person. God’s love is not about feelings or attractiveness but about doing what is best for others, meeting their needs and unselfishly being like Jesus for them. It usually involves sacrifice and always requires the Holy Spirit in His fullness. Love is first on the list of what He produces in my life. (See Galatians 5:22–23)

Today, like every day, I need You Lord, not only need Your love for me, but Your love filling me and flowing out from me so I can do whatever You ask that I might be Your loving blessing in the lives of others. In myself, I will think only of what works best for me and I can be terribly selfish. Yet You love and take care of me in wonderful ways. I don’t have to focus on me — because You focus on me. Remind me all day of Your love and let that be how I relate to everyone around me.