Defining God

Who is God?  What is He?

We talk to Him, we pray to Him, we witness regarding Him, we experience Him, but can we explain Him in a few words?

This is my definition of God:
He who has the power to give life to what has none, 
to call out that which is not as though it were,
to promise with unfailing power and confidence,
to fulfill every promise made in perfect will.

I am the Lord, the God of all mankind.--Jeremiah 32:27
Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm.  Nothing is too hard for You.--Jeremiah 32:17
Not one word has failed of all the good promises He gave to His servant Moses.--1Kings 8:56

God lives in an infinite creation of His own making.
He surrounds Himself with Himself, perfectly sufficient and powerful.

I, as a human being, share my existence with a man, a cat, or a tree, but do not, cannot, share all my essence with them.  I am part of God's world as they are part of mine.

We know that God, by His very nature, surrounds us, and yet we still say we need to find Him.  We reach for God, but grab His creation instead.  Knowing God means that I expend less effort in finding harmony with the world, but yearn instead to find harmony in God, allowing the world to fall in line next to me as we all worship Him.


I honor God's power and marvel at His miracles, all the while looking for His face all around them.  God is Himself.  There is no other.

When to Flex

How much am I supposed to let God do?  How much does He expect me to do?  I'm still trying to figure this out.

I know God is strong, much stronger than me in every way.  I also know, though, that He expects me to do some things on my own.  Which is which?

One part I understand--God is in charge of the impossible.  He will absolutely do what I cannot.  In fact, He has already done this.

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.--Romans 5:8

While I wasn't paying attention, God saved me.  He did the hard part, the otherwise impossible part. Having done that, He turned my head to face Him.  Now, together we can do the easier part, the job of changing me.

If, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life?--Romans 5:10

In effecting salvation, God gave me life, Spirit, and a promise for the future.  Will He now drop me on my head if I find myself too weak to complete the job?  Of course not.

I must flex my muscle, as far as my strength allows, to accomplish my job in Christ. But what is that job?
Simply put, my job in Him is to be holy. 
Just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.--1Peter 1:15

Can I accomplish holiness because I am strong or smart?  No, but I can do it because Christ's power lives in me.  As I do everything I can, He continues to do the impossible, right beside me, the end already in hand, His glory at my fingertips.

Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ.--Ephesians 1:3

First Light

I have wondered for a long time about how soldiers get ready for their days, the ones in which they know they will have to risk their lives in combat and during which they might die. The rest of us get up, brush our teeth, decide what to wear or what to have for breakfast, kiss our spouse, and go to work. Somehow, a solder has to rub sleep out of his eyes, shoulder his weapon, and prepare to fight for his life.

I have heard a few discussions about this, memories of times filled with bullets and explosions and blood. I have heard about days when the dead lay all around except for one. I have heard about the smell of spent shells and been asked to imagine the sound of the accumulated gunfire of a hundred men shooting at once, but I have never experienced anything even remotely like it. I do know, however, someone who has.

Israel's King David did not use a gun, but he did use spears and shields. And he also did something that few soldiers can: he found words for what he experienced.

Strangers are attacking me; ruthless men seek my life, men without regard for God. -Psalm 53: 3
See how they lie in wait for me! Fierce men conspire against me for no offense or sin of mine, O Lord--Psalm 59:3Every soldier must at some time cry out just like David did. And I'm ashamed to say it, so do I, even though my lot is less dangerous and the price much lower. Some days, enemies just seem to crowd around and I can almost hear their spears rattle. On those days, though, I have to find solace in the same place David did.
Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take up shield and buckler, arise and come to my aid. Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. --Psalm 35: 1-2a

And on those days, knowing that we do not have the final say as to who wins or loses, who lives or dies, there is only one place to look for real assurance.
Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation.' Psalm 35: 2b
Rest, soldier. Your battle may still rage, but the Victor fights beside you, and has already won.