Psalm 139:2-4, 7 "God is Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent"

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? ~Psalm 139:2-4, 7

What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do. ~Isaiah 46:11b

These three huge words describe the very best friend we will ever know or who will ever know us. Our omniscient God is all-knowing. No thought you have ever had was hidden from Him. Every idea you have formed, He knew your intentions. Your heart is His reading material and your mind an open book.

God’s omnipresence allows Him to be everywhere at the same time. No corner of the universe is without His presence. When we are on the mountaintop, He is there. When we walk in the valley, He walks with us.

God’s power is omnipotent. There is no one greater or more powerful than He is. Nothing and no one can overcome Him. He is not fatigued or on vacation because His power is endless. He never sleeps nor does He ever need our help. The only thing He needs from us is our friendship.

Further Thoughts:

1. Describe your ideal friend. How does God compare with your description?
2. Are these attributes of God overwhelming? Why?
3. In what ways do these attributes of God help us in living a holy life?
4. Find other Scripture that talks about God’s omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence.

Father, You are the best possible friend anyone could have. You know every part of me, are always with me, and empower me to face each day. Thank You. Amen.

Proverbs 14:19 "God is Good and Righteous"

Evil men will bow down in the presence of the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. ~Proverbs 14:19

Evil cannot remain in the presence of the goodness and righteousness of God. His holiness overpowers and overcomes any challenge evil can cause. He is perfect goodness. His ways are always right. His whole being embodies holiness like no other so that His goodness and righteous cannot even be understood by our mere human minds. The Creator creates what is good and righteous; evil distorts that creation but can never change it.

All the adjectives we use to describe someone that is good – superior, excellent, magnificent, marvelous – pale in comparison to the goodness of our Lord. And His righteousness will win out over all opposition.

This passage in Proverbs is not referring to God’s presence or His gates. It’s talking about those who receive Him. We are given the power of the greatest Being of goodness and righteousness to live within us. By the power of His presence in our lives, we can overcome evil with His goodness.

Further Thoughts:

1. In spite of the evil in the world, what examples of God’s goodness and righteousness do we see every day?
2. Why do some people have trouble viewing God as good?
3. How does knowing that God’s goodness and righteousness live within us change the way we face the challenges of each day?

Holy Father, Your presence empowers me to face any challenge the enemy may throw at me. Thank You for overcoming evil with Your goodness and righteousness. My life has hope. Amen.

1 John 19 "God is Just and Perfect Grace"

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ~1 John 1:9

The justice of God depends upon a transgression being made right. A price must be paid for sin and He paid it. The atonement made on the cross covers anything we have done against the Lord. Nothing is exempt. Therefore, we are only left with the responsibility to humble ourselves and confess the sins we have committed and turn away from our transgressions.

Although we may have to deal with some consequences of sin, the punishment is paid for. Redemption is undeserved and filled with the amazing grace of our Lord. Even in all our wretchedness, without any call for rightfully deserving it, He offers His grace to cover our sins with His atoning blood. What greater gift was ever given to put all things right again.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do you ever feel like God is unfair? Why?
2. Why are there still consequences for sin even when they have been forgiven?
3. How have you experienced God’s amazing grace?
4. How do we live out justice and grace in our own lives?

Father, thank You that you are just and full of grace. Without Your grace I would still be living in my wretched sin. You are truly amazing. Amen.

Ezekiel 38:23 "The Holy God Lives in Community"

And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord. ~Ezekiel 38:23

To truly know and love someone, you must spend time with them and get to know their attributes – who they are; what makes them tick; their likes and dislikes. That is what we will be doing this week, and we are beginning with God lives in community. We’ve already discussed that He lives in community with Himself in the form of the Trinity. But, as well, the very reason He created us was to live in community with us. He desires a relationship with His creation.

In Ezekiel we learn that He promises to share His greatness with us. We do not serve a distant, tyrannical deity who has no desire to be a part of our lives whatsoever. We serve a God of love who wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives. He showed His love through creating an amazing world for us to live in. He gave us free will to choose to have a relationship with Him. After we messed that one up, our God provided a way to restore the union we had with Him through great personal sacrifice. Now He lives within us in moment by moment communion. Does God hide from us? Absolutely not. Look around. He is continuously revealing His presence.

Further Thoughts:

1. List specific ways God continues to reveal His greatness and holiness to you.
2. Why do we so often fail to see God’s activity in our lives?
3. What have you been doing lately to purposefully live in community with God?

Father, open my eyes to your activity in my life. Quiet my spirit so I can hear Your words of love and direction in my life. I want to love You more each day. Amen.

Psalm 90:2 "The Attributes of God - Deity"

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. ~ Psalm 90:2

Attributes of God are vast and could never be dealt with in a couple of paragraphs. Entire books could be written just about His omniscience (the ability to know all) and His omnipresence (the ability to be everywhere at the same time.) And we still would not understand these amazing God qualities. So we’ll focus on His sovereignty – His supreme authority to rule as the God of all.

The Almighty has always been and always will be. He is not restricted by time or space. And as Creator of all that is, He maintains sovereignty over all creation, including mankind. His Word is law. His power has no limits. And as such, He remains the one true God – who wants a relationship with you. We may try to put Him in a box and make Him into the God we want Him to be, but in reality, He will always be who He is – a big God.

Further Thoughts:

1. Make a list of the attributes of God that attest to His Deity.
2. How does man try to put God into a box? In other words, how do we try to make Him small and manageable?
3. How do you know God is who He says He is?How can such a big God love someone as small as we are?

God, I believe that You are the omniscient, omnipresent, sovereign God of all. And yet, You care about me. Lord, in my life, all I ask is that You be Big. Amen.

Exodus 6:7 "Misconceptions About God"

I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God…. ~Exodus 6:7

Man’s thoughts about God can bounce around like changing images on mirrors in a fun house. Whatever our mood or circumstances, that’s how we filter our view of God. But it’s simply not the truth. God is not Santa Claus who brings you good things when you are good and coal when you are bad. He’s also not human with changing emotions and opinions. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. His love is always unconditional and His judgment is always just.

Over 70 times in the Old Testament God says in some form, “I am the Lord your God.” Unlike the mythical gods, God is not capricious, moody, unscrupulous or selfish – characteristics that mirror human, fallible behavior. Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” He is the one and only God of the universe, and He is our Lord. He will never let the good go unrewarded or the sinful unpunished. He is always good, always loving, always just. He is God.

Further Thoughts:

1. What misconceptions about God can you tend to fall into believing?
2. Why do you have misconceptions about God? What influences have led you there?
3. How do you retain truth about who God is?
4. What changes in your daily life need to happen to keep a right perspective on God?

Father, guard my heart in Truth. Help me to always see You as You really are, not as my emotions or circumstances may want to lead me to believe. Amen.

Exodus 3:14 "Who is God?"

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you”~ Exodus 3:14

All human beings have an innate sense of the existence of someone greater than themselves. God is saying in Exodus that He is that being. He is the one that we simply “know” is out there somewhere – powerful, all-knowing. Sometimes we have trouble putting labels on who He is or even believing that He does exist. But God is real – alive and active. He exists above and outside our human limitations while at the same time interacting with His creation.

Some people spend their entire life looking for God when He was right here all the time. He may be an invisible entity, but His love is evident all around us. Some of us have to look a little harder than others because we are surrounded by so much sin, pain, and ugliness. But He is still there and He loves you deeply. More than you will ever know.

Further Thoughts:

1. Why is it important to know who God is?
2. Have you ever doubted the existence of God? Why or why not?
3. What has influenced your view of God? Is it based on Scripture or people’s opinions?
4. What evidences of God have you experienced?
   

Father, as I seek after You, continue to reveal to me who You are. I want to know you more – to understand Your amazing love and power. Amen.