July 15, 2009 Balanced View Of God
Today’s Bible Reading: Isaiah 22, 23, 24; Hebrews 12
Scripture Focus:
Hebrews 12:3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
Hebrews 12:28–29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.
Observation:
Most of my life I’ve heard the love of God preached, and it’s true. God’s love is unfathomable. Consider the verse in Hebrews 12:3 that speaks of Jesus being willing to die for us. What greater love is there than that?
What I haven’t heard so much over my life is the other side of God that is spoken of in Hebrews 12:29. For our God is a consuming fire.
All through Scripture you see both sides of God: his love and his judgement. They may seem mutually exclusive to us, but God is able to pull it off in perfect balance.
Application:
Keep a balanced view of God. It will give you a healthy respect for God while still knowing that he loves you deeply and is willing to give anything for you. As Hebrews 12 puts it, God is like the perfect heavenly father who loves and corrects in order to bring us to a point of maturity.
Prayer:
Father God, I am your child. May I respond to your love and discipline with joy, knowing that you do all for my good.
