July 5, 2022 – Reflections on “There’s No One Like Our God!

But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield. Psalm 5:11-12.

What are you thinking about at this moment? Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ Matthew 6:31. This morning I heard these lyrics…(Meigs) Others, Lord, yes others, Let this my motto be, Help me to live for others, That I may live like Thee. 

Then I remember Jesus gives a second commandment, And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:39. This begins with a smile and a kind word.

Who is this God, who is like no other? His Word tells us the many ways that God IS. It begins with God is Love.  So, we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. 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. I John 4:16-17.

One day in the classroom, a 6^th grade student asked me, “When did God begin?” I prayed before I answered, and then went directly to scripture. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.Genesis 1:1. What are the differences in time between minutes/week/hours/ generations/and eternity? But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  2 Peter 3:8.

         Not only did God Create the heavens and earth, but He chose us before we were. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 3-6. He has a purpose for our lives.

         What will we do with our Lord God, the Creator of our universe, the Giver of Freedom from Sin, our Salvation, and the One who endures forever? This is a question we all must answer.

         Who IS God?  He is Good, Faithful, Strength, Shield, Love, and He never sleeps. Although no one has seen Him, He is presence is known by those who choose to follow Him and obey His Word. Knowing Who God is helps us respond.  Our desire to be independent is contrary to His Desire for us to depend on Him in our lives.  It is when we rely on Him for strength, answers, guidance, and how to shape our lives, we will obey His commandments, that are built on Loving God with all our hearts, souls, and minds. (Matthew 22:37).

         Wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. Psalm 37:34. Rushing our actions and our words without waiting for the Lord creates chaos in our homes, country, and world. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His heritage!  Psalm 33:12.

         As the Israelites, stood at the Red Sea waiting for annihilation at the hands of the Egyptians, they waited on God. He made a way for the Children of Israel to cross over the Red Sea on dry land. God told Moses, “The Lord will fight for you. And you have only to be silent!” Exodus 14:14.

         What are we to do? Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  I Thessalonians 5:18. Suppose what we have in our lives is painful, difficult to endure, are we to give thanks? Yes.  I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus. I Corinthians 1:4. Reading an email lately, of a mother separated by circumstances for over a year from her son, she rejoices for the close relationship they had enjoyed, and God is providing a way for him to grow to be an independent young man.

         Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. James 1:2-3. No complaining, no whining, but Joy. Knowing joy each day, God’s love sustains us in the hard things of life, bringing a reason to… Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7.

         Our Lord God gives gifts.  He gave us Jesus to pay the sacrifice of forgiveness of our sins. He gives us life through Jesus. Jesus said to him (Thomas), “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. The Word teaches us the way to live. When we hunger for righteousness and truth, this is from God and His Son Jesus. When we do not choose to accept them, we do not choose life, but we choose death. For only through The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit in our lives do we choose to live and accept the inheritance of eternal life.

         Our Father in Heaven desires for us to be productive by living for Him, and being an ambassador for Him by bearing the fruit of the Spirit in our hearts.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23.

         As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. I Peter 4:10-11.