God’s nature

God Put On Skin

Posted on by Jesse Walker

In John 1:14, Jesus becomes the visible expression of an invisible God. The message bible puts it this way, “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.”

All the splendor of God was put-on full display for everyone to see. God’s love now beat in the human heart. His wisdom was now spoken from human lips. His grace was now available by the human touch. Jesus was God wrapped in human flesh.

Greg Laurie in an article called God with Skin on tells a story of a little boy who was frightened at night during a thunderstorm. He cried out to his father, “Help me.” From the other room, his Daddy shouts back, “Son, God loves you and will take care of you.” The storm rages on. Another bolt of lightning and the clap of thunder caused the boy to cry out again, “Daddy!” His Daddy gave the same response, “Son, God loves you and will take care of you.” The storm intensifies and the little boy screams out again, and Daddy’s response was the same. Then the little boy shouts back to his dad, Daddy, I know God loves me, but right now I need someone with skin on. As we face the struggles of life, I believe we all need a God with skin on.

I don’t know what you are facing today, but God came and put on flesh, to let you know there is nothing he cannot do. If you need mercy look to Jesus and see how he granted mercy to the woman brought before him to be stoned. If you need comfort, look at how Jesus was moved by the death of Lazarus. If you need forgiveness, look at how Jesus told the thief on the cross “you shall be with me in paradise” this day. Jesus stepped out of heaven and came to earth so you and me could see God.

Let me close with this. Maybe the saddest words of the bible are recorded in John 1:10. “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.” The creator was rejected by the created. Jesus came, to bring everyone light and life according to John 8:12. The question is, will you receive Him, or will you reject him? If you haven’t accepted him, can I encourage you this morning to do it before it’s too late. Jesus is coming back to gather all those who received Him, and to cast those who don’t into the darkness of hell. If you have questions, please leave me a note, I’d love to talk with you about the God who came to earth to carry away the sin of the world.

Two Aspects of God

Posted on by Bob Mathews

Nahum 1:2-8

During the prophesying of Nahum to the people of Nineveh, we are given insight into two great aspects of God. We can see the severity and kindness of God. Nahum states how the Lord is a jealous and avenging God, as well as wrathful, and that His vengeance is going to come upon His adversaries. We also know that He is a God that will not leave the guilty unpunished.

However, God is also good and kind. Nahum says how He is a stronghold in the day of trouble and that He knows those who take refuge in Him. God will punish those that are against Him but He will also protect those with Him. And when it says that God knows it means that He truly knows those that are with Him and not just those who act like they are when it benefits them. God’s kindness is truly great for those with Him, but are you with Him? And being neutral is does not count in this instance. Because even if you live a life that consists of good and happiness you still have to be on one side or the other. You can’t live a life absent of God and be on His team. If we live for ourselves, even if that means we live a good and moral life, we are still adversaries of God because we are not His allies.

God wants us to be on His side and He wants to protect us from the death that is to come, but we have to make that choice. So what kind of choice will we make? Will we live for God and hold fast to all that He teaches or live for ourselves and be the object of God’s wrath in the end?       Jacob Saarloos

 

God reigns!

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We have seen, heard, and even experienced the idea of change. Politicians have used that word and have we ever seen the change that has happened in our country. We who have been blessed to get past being young and now are getting to be “old” have seen and experienced the changes that have taken place in our lives.

With all this change going on, we wonder what is going to happen next, what will be changed in the morning when I wake up to a new day? Most of us don’t handle change very well. We don’t like big changes in our lives. We don’t like to get out of our comfort zone. So we say, leave it alone, “If it is not broke, don’t fix it.” I know I feel that way a lot of times. However, from the above passage, let’s focus on two things when changes occur.

God…even the One who sits enthroned from of old—with whom there is no change.
                    Psalm 55:19

First of all it says that God is “enthroned.” When the children of Israel wanted a king like everyone around them, Samuel was disappointed, but God was even more so; but there is one thing that we can be sure of, God is on the throne! He is still in charge! He is still sovereign over all things. It is still true that we “live and move and have our very being in Him.”

One of the first things you notice about the book of Revelation is that John is allowed to see the throne room to see God on the throne. A lot of Christians thought God had left them alone, but He had not, so John sees and tells about God on the throne, ruling everything. When life gets tough, tedious and it looks like God doesn’t care, just remember, He is still ruling this world!

The second thing is that God doesn’t change. Oh, there are things about Him that change. His laws, for example, have changed. We don’t have to build an ark. We don’t have to offer up animal sacrifices. We don’t have to go to Jerusalem. But His nature does not change. He still desires the sacrifices of a broken and contrite heart over our sins. He is still looking for a demonstration of faith in our lives. He is still full of compassion, mercy, and forgiveness. He is still the same yesterday, today, and forever!

So, stop wringing your hands and trying to figure out what God is doing. He is still ruling like He always has done and He is not going to change, even if the whole world does. Rejoice and be happy, for He is so good, gracious, and faithful.