Who is God the Father
Listen to the full audio version here
Welcome to this week's audio devotional! The last few weeks we took a closer look at two key pillars of Christianity. Namely, we looked into the reasons behind the importance of Faith and Prayer.
See 5 Reasons Why Faith is Important – SimplyHealthyHome (shopsimplyhealthyhome.com) for full audio devotional.
See Why is Praying Important – SimplyHealthyHome (shopsimplyhealthyhome.com) for full audio devotional.
But, who do we have faith in, and who should we pray to?
It's these questions that have prompted the title and subject of our next few lessons, which are focused on God and His characteristics.
A key pillar of Christianity is the belief in the existence of a Triune God - A God that is Three in One.
The purpose of this series is to take a closer look into the characteristics of each of the Godheads - The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.
Today's devotional explores the topic of who is God the Father.
1. God is the Creator of All
This characteristic of God is probably one of the most contested, perhaps even more so than His existence. The concept that God created everything for some is inevitable, while for others may seem contradictory to science.
My belief is that the existence of God is supported in the order, complexity, and beauty of the world. Furthermore, how does one explain the existence of something from nothing? The answer is clear - A God capable of being outside the boundaries of time and finite knowledge.
The Bible starts with a clear statement on the origin of the world -
Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
And while some may argue the bias of this text, the Bible is the basis on which we set all truth, because it is the truth of the Word of God.
To believe in the concept of a God that created all is nothing short of letting go of one's desire to be in control. For some, if the existence of God were true, it would also mean that the choices they've made, and current lifestyle might not hold the same favor. It might mean the need for course correction and this I'll admit can be a scary thought. Scary as it is thought to have to change, it is often necessary and for our own benefit.
2. God is Love
I can't even begin to describe the significance that this characteristic of God has for me. Time and time again, God has revealed His love and compassion for me and I'm so grateful for His love.
Not only does God love us, but all love stems from God.
1 John 4:7-8 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."
So, what is love? 1 Cor. 13:4-8 speaks of the true biblical definition of love. It's important to distinguish between the love that we often see portrayed in the media. God's love is pure and perfect.
His love is the true model of love that should be followed. Why? Easy - because His love never fails.
"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away."
3. God is the Father of All
God is the Father of us all. The passage below shows that God is the Father of all and that all things are from Him and for Him. We were created in Him image and for the purpose of glorifying Him.
1 Corinthians 8:6 "yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live."
And just like we go to our earthly fathers for help, we are also encouraged to go to our heavenly Father in times of need -
Romans 8:14-16 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,".
4. God is Great
God is great. His greatness is evident in His omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. But perhaps the most significant sign of His greatness is seen in the passage below -
Ephesians 1:19-20 "and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,"
God's greatness rose Jesus from the grave, and as a result we now have eternal life through Jesus Christ.
5. God is Eternal
God is outside the boundaries of time. He has neither a start nor an end.
Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
6. God is the One True God
The same God who rose Jesus Christ from the grave is the one true God.
Isaiah 43:10 "You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me."
7. God is the One True Judge
God is the one true judge. Many people ask the question - "If God is so loving, why would he condemn someone to hell?".
God's love toward us is great. So great that He sent His only and perfect Son to be ridiculed, tortured, and eventually put to death on the cross. But as much as He is loving, He is also holy and just.
And just as we have earthly consequences for our actions, we also will have to give an account of our actions in the life to come.
Acts 17:31 "because he has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."
