Tuesday, April 15, 2014

How do we know how powerful God is?

There are three characteristics of God that we cannot possibly fully understand: His infinite knowledge, His infinite presence, and His infinite power.

These are often labeled by the following three words: God's omniscience (He completely knows all things), His omnipresence (He is completely everywhere at all times), and His omnipotence (He can do absolutely anything He desires to do).

In Psalm 139, the writer describes each of these three. He gets caught up in wonder at his amazing God and describes:
* God's omniscience (Psalm 139:1-6)
* God's omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-12)
* God's omnipotence (Psalm 139:13-16)

Well, if you were the writer, how would you illustrate God's power (omnipotence)? I know how I would. I love looking into a clear night sky and trying to imagine the size of space. I love getting lost in how BIG it is out there. And, then I think about the fact that my Father in Heaven spoke everything into existence in 6 days.

But, that's not how God moved the Psalmist to describe His omnipotence (His infinite power). He had the Psalmist describe his power this way ... our formation in our mother's womb. It's as if God is saying:

"Hey, look at the stars in the night's skies. That's pretty incredible, but I can do something even better. In fact, while I spoke the stars into existence, there was a part of Creation where I actually got my hands dirty. Remember how I scooped up some dirt and personally crafted Adam? And, then I did surgery on Adam and personally created Eve? Well, my personal, powerful involvement in the creation of mankind didn't stop there. I continue to express My infinite power by actively being involved in the formation of every single baby in its mother's womb."

Psalm 139:13-18 (New Living Translation)
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous - how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!

And, then God sent His ultimate expression of power and love when Jesus died on the cross for us and rose again on the third day.

What should be our response to such power and love from our God? The most natural response is simply to love Him back.

Matthew 22:37-38 (New Living Translation)
"Jesus replied, 'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment."

When we think of how powerfully God has moved on our behalf from the moment we were formed in our mother's womb until today and when we come to a greater understanding of just how much He loves us, loving Him back is the most natural response imaginable.


Will that be your response today?

No comments: