SO WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES TELL US ABOUT GOD?
Here’s the deal… if we don’t see God in the right light, we won’t be able to understand and see a lot of things correctly. In order to grow and mature in your walk with God, you have to first KNOW HIM.
The Bible says GOD IS LOVE.
In fact, the Message Translation of Romans 5:8 says, “God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatsoever to him.” Not only is God Himself pure love (1 John 4:8) but because it’s who He is, it is also what He does. Love is His character. “[God] is patient and kind. [God] is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. [God] does not demand its own way. [God] is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. [God] does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. [God] never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NLT).
The Bible also reveals God as a GOOD FATHER.
And in a world where many either didn’t know their dad or had a very broken relationship with their earthly father, this is comforting. 1 John 3:1 says, “See what [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted as children of God” (AMP).
Jesus was ridiculed a lot for calling God His Father but it never deterred Him. Jesus had a close relationship with His Father God and then amazingly, after His resurrection He said go tell the disciples, “I am ascending to MY Father and YOUR Father, and to MY God and YOUR God” (John 20:17). He wanted to make sure they knew we are now included in the family! The reconciliaition He always talked about was now accomplished.
The Bible loves to reveal God as a GOOD SHEPHERD.
A shepherd is one who protects, guides, and watches over (whatever has been entrusted to them). In this case, we are the ones God watches over carefully. In fact, He said, “I will search for my sheep myself, and I will look after them. As a shepherd looks after his flock when he is with his scattered sheep, so I will look after my sheep. I will rescue them on a cloudy and gloomy day from every place where they have been scattered” (Ezekiel 34:11-12, GW).
I love this about God. And although He is rejected every day by many people, that doesn’t stop Him from loving us. The Bible calls Him the Shepherd and Overseer of our soul. I’m thankful He isn’t offended easily. He just stays near, always ready, always watchful.
Another quality that can’t be overlooked is that GOD SEES US THROUGH THE BLOOD– not our mistakes. Romans 3:25 says, “God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin (by His blood, through faith), to demonstrate His righteousness…” In other words, God never intended for any of us to live on a roller coaster of doubt and insecurity. The devil is the one behind that nonsense. And Psalm 85:13 says, “Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway.” The world can be a dangerous place, but because of the blood of Jesus, we can safely maneuver through it by walking in the path God has given us.
It’s important to know God through His Word because if you only know the benefits of salvation without an understanding of God or the position He’s given us in Christ, you’ll struggle with receiving all He has for you.
My prayer is that you will see God– really see Him and know Him.