Exodus 34:6 … “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness, 7 keeping loyal love for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression and sin. But he by no means leaves the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and on the children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.”
Most people don’t know God as he really is! That may sound like a self-righteous or arrogant statement, but it is true. The Bible itself describes most people as ignorant of who God really is. This is a serious concern and we want to talk about it today. Our goal is to understand the issues and bring a resolution for us based on the Word of God.
God’s glory shines in his unending love and amazing grace! God’s great patience and his tender mercies reflect his glory in amazing ways. Yet we would be mistaken to think that these divine qualities are all that God is. God is much bigger than those gentle qualities. His glory shines in his other characteristics which are as essential to who he is than just his goodness.
Today, let’s start a process of becoming more acquainted with the God of the Bible in all his glory. Let’s see all his divine attributes, not just some of them. By the power of the Spirit of God, let’s allow our spiritual eyes to be opened so that we see God in his other great attributes. Let our hearts be sobered by the fact that God is also holy, righteous, and just. He disciplines his children, fights and defeats his enemies, and punishes those who destroy his people or shame his glorious name. It is part of the glory of God that he governs the universe with righteousness and justice. Those who what’s right will be rewarded and those who choose to do evil even if they know what’s right and wrong will be punished.
As Creator and Lord of all creation, God exercises loving care and patient endurance inspite of man’s sins. He blesses humanity with many good things even though those blessings are undeserved. His glory shines in his great mercy and matchless grace. But God’s glory includes a righteous and just rule. Follow him and his ways and you will be blessed. Reject his will and rebel against his righteous standards and you will be destroyed. The God you didn’t know. Let’s get acquainted with him today.
May the Lord richly bless you, your family, and your ministry.
Lathur Badoy