Encounter the Truth
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David knows that the Lord is committed to protecting those of his covenant community; he knows that God is a God of faithfulness to his people; a God of mercy to those who call on him. If we are sensible and wise people, we will want to join David and cry out to the Lord as he cries out, "Keep me safe, O God."
David knows that the Lord is committed to protecting those of his covenant community; he knows that God is a God of faithfulness to his people; a God of mercy to those who call on him. If we are sensible and wise people, we will want to join David and cry out to the Lord as he cries out, "Keep me safe, O God."
Patience is vital to our understanding of who God is and what he is like. Were it not for God’s patience, you and I would not be here at all. Each one of us is the beneficiary of the extraordinary patience of God.
Patience is vital to our understanding of who God is and what he is like. Were it not for God’s patience, you and I would not be here at all. Each one of us is the beneficiary of the extraordinary patience of God.
Our God is fundamentally and in his character a generous God. His inclination is not in the direction of miserliness—but in the direction of bounty. That’s an outworking of both his goodness and his love. I hope that we will learn to trust God in his generosity—and then delight in him more as we see his abundant goodness in his lavish generosity.
Our God is fundamentally and in his character a generous God. His inclination is not in the direction of miserliness—but in the direction of bounty. That’s an outworking of both his goodness and his love. I hope that we will learn to trust God in his generosity—and then delight in him more as we see his abundant goodness in his lavish generosity.
Whereas the world’s megalomaniacs grab hold of power and glory out of an ugly selfish ambition—whereas they grasp for something that is not theirs—the Bible would remind us that the God of heaven is supremely glorious in and of himself and perfectly worthy of all honour. And so, when the Bible tells us that God is a jealous God—it is simply telling us that he has an appropriate concern—a rightful zeal—for his own glory.
Whereas the world’s megalomaniacs grab hold of power and glory out of an ugly selfish ambition—whereas they grasp for something that is not theirs—the Bible would remind us that the God of heaven is supremely glorious in and of himself and perfectly worthy of all honour. And so, when the Bible tells us that God is a jealous God—it is simply telling us that he has an appropriate concern—a rightful zeal—for his own glory.
If there is a distinction between grace and mercy—it is that God’s mercy speaks of his goodness to us in our misery and distress when we cannot save ourselves, while his grace speaks of his goodness to us in our guilt when we deserve only his punishment. In mercy God spares us destruction—and in grace he forgives us and makes his children, lavishing his kindness upon us.
If there is a distinction between grace and mercy—it is that God’s mercy speaks of his goodness to us in our misery and distress when we cannot save ourselves, while his grace speaks of his goodness to us in our guilt when we deserve only his punishment. In mercy God spares us destruction—and in grace he forgives us and makes his children, lavishing his kindness upon us.
God’s “righteousness” is his character of total rightness, integrity, goodness and truth—and his “justice” is his expression of that character in his governance of the universe. And the two ideas, although distinct, belong together in the Bible’s portrait of God.
God’s “righteousness” is his character of total rightness, integrity, goodness and truth—and his “justice” is his expression of that character in his governance of the universe. And the two ideas, although distinct, belong together in the Bible’s portrait of God.
There is something deeply attractive to us about the faithfulness of God. Faithfulness is something we value and long for—but so often fail to see in our society and in our own lives. As fallen people, we do not behave as we ought to behave—we don't even behave as we want to behave.
There is something deeply attractive to us about the faithfulness of God. Faithfulness is something we value and long for—but so often fail to see in our society and in our own lives. As fallen people, we do not behave as we ought to behave—we don't even behave as we want to behave.
The holiness of God is supremely important to understanding who he truly is. As some have said before me, God’s holiness is his “attribute of attributes.” It gives shape to all the others. There is a real sense in which holiness summarizes who God is.
The holiness of God is supremely important to understanding who he truly is. As some have said before me, God’s holiness is his “attribute of attributes.” It gives shape to all the others. There is a real sense in which holiness summarizes who God is.
No love is more important to us than the love of God himself. Beyond the love of spouse or parent or friend is the significance of the love of God. Nothing matters more to us than to know that the God of heaven loves us—and that in his character, he is indeed a God of love.
No love is more important to us than the love of God himself. Beyond the love of spouse or parent or friend is the significance of the love of God. Nothing matters more to us than to know that the God of heaven loves us—and that in his character, he is indeed a God of love.
Our God is always good, entirely good, uncompromisingly good in every way. And for us who long to find true goodness—to know reliable goodness—that simple but profound truth comes to us as a balm to the soul.
Our God is always good, entirely good, uncompromisingly good in every way. And for us who long to find true goodness—to know reliable goodness—that simple but profound truth comes to us as a balm to the soul.
At the most fundamental level, the term “glory” speaks of the excellence of God himself: his worth and his beauty, the perfection of his character, his holiness and his power. But this language is also used to speak of the visible display of God’s worth and majesty—the visible expression of the fact that this glorious God is present.
At the most fundamental level, the term “glory” speaks of the excellence of God himself: his worth and his beauty, the perfection of his character, his holiness and his power. But this language is also used to speak of the visible display of God’s worth and majesty—the visible expression of the fact that this glorious God is present.
Essential to our humanity is our limitation when it comes to space. But not so with God. Essential to his divinity is his ability to be in all places at once—fully present everywhere there is to be. Our God is omnipresent.
Essential to our humanity is our limitation when it comes to space. But not so with God. Essential to his divinity is his ability to be in all places at once—fully present everywhere there is to be. Our God is omnipresent.
Being eternal and unchanging, God knows all things and never grows in his knowledge; he is never surprised by anything; his degree of insight and understanding never develops. In his eternity, he knows everything there is to know—he knows all that has happened, is happening, and will happen—and he knows all this fully, and at once.
Being eternal and unchanging, God knows all things and never grows in his knowledge; he is never surprised by anything; his degree of insight and understanding never develops. In his eternity, he knows everything there is to know—he knows all that has happened, is happening, and will happen—and he knows all this fully, and at once.
We can know God and, as believers, we do know God. But Christians have long used the language of “incomprehensibility” to express the truth that it is impossible for us, as finite creatures, to fully grasp the infinite God; we can’t know God as he knows himself; we can’t know and comprehend all that he is. It’s more than we could expect or manage; and it’s more than God has given us to know.
We can know God and, as believers, we do know God. But Christians have long used the language of “incomprehensibility” to express the truth that it is impossible for us, as finite creatures, to fully grasp the infinite God; we can’t know God as he knows himself; we can’t know and comprehend all that he is. It’s more than we could expect or manage; and it’s more than God has given us to know.
Everything in this world draws its strength, integrity—its very existence—from something else. Everything, that is, except God himself. He truly is independent of all other things. He needs nothing for anything; he depends upon no one and no thing. He is entirely self-sufficient.
Everything in this world draws its strength, integrity—its very existence—from something else. Everything, that is, except God himself. He truly is independent of all other things. He needs nothing for anything; he depends upon no one and no thing. He is entirely self-sufficient.
