Archive for the ‘God’ Category

GOD IS LIGHT

Sunday, November 28th, 2010

Day 258

“God is light and in Him is no darkness at all”
1 John 1:5

One of the final declarations in Revelation says, “There will be no more night.” The entire character of God is light. His light purifies us from all sin and we have true fellowship with Him when we walk in the light. We also have fellowship with all others that walk in His light.

What is this light? It is the very Word of God reflecting His glory and character to us. His Word gives us guidance and wisdom, instructing us in His ways. “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). Light shows us how to know Him, how to be in conformity with the very character and heart of God.

There is no darkness in Him. He is pure, righteous and holy. There is no mixture of evil, sin or flesh, as it is with us. His very character is light and in saving us, He has chosen to dwell in us and make us part of Him (2 Peter 1:4). This is the glorious nature of our Father. He loves us and His love is known not only by our salvation but also by His sealing of our inheritance and dwelling with us on our earthly journey. With all this, how can we fail?

“We know that we live in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. . . God is love”
1 John 4:13, 16a

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TENDER MERCIES

Thursday, November 18th, 2010

Day 255

“I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion”
Exodus 33:19

An extraordinary characteristic of God our Father is His mercy. God is sovereign and in His sovereignty, He chooses according to the pleasure of His will. We, as his children, are not the only ones to receive His blessings and mercy. He pays the workers hired at the 11th hour the same as those who worked all day [Matthew 20:1-16]. He gives sunlight to everyone, regardless: the evil and good, and sends rain on the just and unjust [Matthew 5:45]. He even has mercy on those who commit murder.

Cain belonged to the evil one and his actions were evil and unacceptable to God. When he and his brother brought their sacrifices to God, Cain’s was rejected. Jealousy rose up in his heart that led to anger. Yet, God spoke tenderly to Cain, asking why he was angry? Why has your countenance fallen? Will you not be accepted if you do well? Cain sinned and God met him with graciousness and compassion.

Cain’s sin went from anger to hatred and ignoring God’s graciousness, his wickedness came to fullness. He killed his brother. God then cast him out and sentenced him to be a wanderer. Cain, in the midst of this great wickedness and judgment, says to God, “my punishment is greater than I can bear.” He does not repent, he has no remorse; yet he boldly complains to God. Cain’s sins were great and God had mercy, granting him his life.

How great Your mercy is O God! How tender you are to the just and unjust.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” Matthew 5:7

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HIS NAME IS HOLY

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

Day 239

“For thus says the High and Lofty One
Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy;
I dwell in the high and holy place,
With him who has a contrite and humble spirit”
Isaiah 57:15

Our God is elevated and exalted over universe, earth, created objects and beings. In fact, all of the universe and earth do not contain Him, for these He created and are within Him. He lives in timelessness, inhabiting eternity. His name is Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God. His thoughts and ways are loftier than ours, even as the heavens are higher than the earth. Our God is both a mighty and majestic God.

This is God’s pronouncement in Isaiah.

Yet, in the midst of this powerful declaration, He says, “I dwell . . . with him who has a contrite and humble spirit.” He leads and gives us rest in His pasture. In the midst of the magnificent declaration, when for a moment He seemed unreachable, we find ourselves under His very wing.

“. . . and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all fullness of God”
Ephesians 3:19

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GOD IS GOOD

Sunday, June 20th, 2010

Day 109

“No good thing does He withhold from
those who walk uprightly”
Psalm 84:11

When Moses asked God to show him His glory, God said, “I Myself will make all my goodness pass before you” [Exodus 34:5]. The goodness of God is the overall summation of His nature and character. It is who He is. When you want to know about the glory of God, it is seen in His glorious nature and character.

If you understand the goodness of God, you understand there is nothing that is good apart from God. Jesus declared “There is only One who is good” [Matthew 19-16-17]. No man is good. Only God. And God is the source of everything that is good. You and I are His children today because of His goodness. He sent the good news to us that brought the message of salvation. We deserved death, He gave us life.

God’s goodness reaches every part of our life. He withholds no good thing from us – He gives us grace and glory. And more – He causes all things to work together for good to those who love God [Romans 8:28]. Do you understand the breadth and depth of that verse? There is nothing in our lives that cannot be turned to the good. We need and must see God through His goodness to understand Him. If we don’t, we will view life, and God, from an earthly and carnal understanding, missing His goodness and blessings.

“O taste and see that the Lord is good”
Psalm 34:8

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