Who God is Equals What God Does: Part 2
Chaos. Uncertainty. Fear. There’s not a better time to really know who God is and what God does than right now in our nation and world.
Because no matter what happens, God wants us to trust that He IS God.
In part 1, we covered how God is a multi-faceted God and who He is and what He does are one and the same: God is good, kind, loving and merciful.
Although present-day culture zeroes in on these four characteristics of the Lord and ignores others, this limited perspective’s also found among Christians.
But we do ourselves a disservice when we fail to understand the other important aspects of the heavenly Father.
Because a god who’s not equally holy and just, doesn’t meet the requirements for a higher power.
Instead, this god falls on the same level with false gods and mere humans.
So let’s look at four additional attributes.
There’s not a better time to really know who God is and what God does than right now in our nation and world. Because no matter what happens, God wants us to trust that He IS God. #God #InGodWeTrust Click To TweetGod is light.
Perhaps you’ve stumbled in the darkness in the middle of the night. This is how I broke my little toe in high school. And there’s the time I ran into the corner of a wall in a hotel room. I sustained a cut right below my eyebrow and still bear the scar.
Or, we might take a walk or hike when daylight suddenly turns to nightfall making it hard to see which way to go.
Likewise, spiritual darkness causes us to stumble or makes it difficult to see which way to go. Chaos, uncertainty and fear happen when spiritual darkness is present.
The enemy wants us uncertain and fearful. He’s the prince of darkness. But we trust in spiritual light.
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5 (ESV)
His word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105) so we see which way to go. The Lord is light and shedding light in the darkness is what He does.
God is truth.
So much of the chaos surrounding America and the world stems from the absence of truth.
When truth’s thrown to the ground and trampled beyond recognition, it births confusion, then pandemonium ensues.
And people try to manufacture their own truth.
Jesus said in John 14:6b, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” (ESV)
Christ sent the Holy Spirit as a helper and the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father. (John 15:26)
Also, a vital piece of armor in Ephesians 6 includes the belt of truth that helps us stand firm. (verse 14)
When we know the truth, it sets us free. (John 8:32)
So much of the chaos surrounding America and the world stems from the absence of truth. When truth’s thrown to the ground and trampled beyond recognition, it births confusion, then pandemonium ensues. God is truth. #TruthMatters Click To TweetGod is holy.
“God is holy means there is no trace of evil in his character. Only God is holy.” (The Blue Letter Bible)
Exodus 15:11 reiterates it, “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” (ESV)
Since evil’s prevalent on this earth because of sin and ungodliness, the Lord’s holiness plays an integral role in who He is and what He does.
Because God is good and kind and holy, He saves us from our sin, sanctifies us and calls us to become a holy people. “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” 1 Peter 1:15 (ESV)
The Almighty not only reigns as holy, sovereign Lord, but He will also one day do away with evil once and for all.
God is just.
We want justice! We’ve heard a lot about injustice throughout 2020.
Yes, we hope justice is carried out on earth by the court system. Yet, God’s court is the highest in the land.
Because God is light, truth and holy, He is also just. Justice is what God does.
If the Lord never dispensed justice, to whom or where would we turn to make things right or punish deeds done in darkness?
Look at Isaiah 30:18 “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” (NIV) And the Lord loves justice. (Isaiah 61:8)
Deuteronomy 32:4 says, “The Rock! His work is perfect! For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.” (NASB)
Finally, Psalm 33:5 shows the Lord’s justice connected to His love. “The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.” (NIV)
God Is/God Does
The Lord is good, kind, loving and merciful; light, truth, holy and just. And this is what God does.
Who God is and what God does: good, kind, loving and merciful; light, truth, holy and just. #God Click To Tweet
Do you see these attributes of the Lord in your life?
Do you pray for them in the world?
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Purposeful Faith/Recharge Wednesday/Worth Beyond Rubies/Tune in Thursday/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected/Candidly Christian and Faith On Fire.
© 2020 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
“So much of the chaos surrounding America and the world stems from the absence of truth.”
Amen. We need to hear and tell the truth. God bless!
Agree, Nancy. The Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father. (John 15:26) And a vital piece of armor in Ephesians 6 includes the belt of truth that helps us stand firm. (verse 14)
I am comforted knowing God is in charge. He is our protector. We need not be afraid. We are called to worship Him.
So true, Melissa! Isaiah 30:18 “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” (NIV) And the Lord loves justice. (Isaiah 61:8)
Truth is not relative thing, as the world would have us think. God’s Word is our bastion of truth, unchanging and steadfast. May the world wake up to the everlasting truth God gives to us!
Blessings, Karen!
Martha, this is a great reminder: “God’s Word is our bastion of truth, unchanging and steadfast.” “Truth is relative” birthed from a shaky and shallow supposition.
Right on target Karen.
Be blessed.
Mandy, thanks. “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11 (ESV)
You post is so well timed with everything happening in our world. They need to see the light of our Heavenly Father. And the light will drive away the darkness where the lies are hidden. Thanks Karen
Yvonne, light is such a powerful quality of our great God. And it does go hand-in-hand in shedding light on darkness and the father of lies.
This is so good. Truth is KEY! Truth is light shining into the darkness. Thank you, Karen! I just love your perspective.
Jessica, I always appreciate your perspective in your comments and in your blog posts. When we know the truth, it sets us free. (John 8:32)
A timely post for a significant time, as the nation holds its breath and watches for news to see who the next president of the United States will be. We need not fear, nor worry, for God is in control. God is just. God is holy. God is loving. God is interested in causing us to grow in personal holiness and in our trust of him. The Lord can be trusted.
Well said, Melinda. “The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.” Psalm 33:5 (NIV)
Amen! God is truth – I rely on that. We are imperfect, without Him we would be nothing. Thank you, Lord, for your truth, your holiness, your light, and justice. You are perfect. Thank you, Karen, for always showing His wonderful character.
I’m listening to worship music while I read this…it all made me want to praise Him.
Praise the Lord! Glad worship music and reading about who God is and what He does stirred your soul to praise. As it should all of us when we really recognize each and every characteristic of God Almighty!
It is so encouraging to hold on to these truths about God in the chaos of the world right now!
Yes, Lesley. Because no matter what happens, God wants us to trust that He IS God.
I just spent a few seconds trying to wrap my head around what it would be like to act always in harmony with what I believe and who I am in Christ. Amazing that God is always consistent and congruent!
Great point, Michele. We often act contrary to our real identity in Christ. Thankful the Lord is true to who He is and what He does.
God is what he does. Such a powerful truth that we need to keep at the forefront of our minds. And everything he does is good! Thanks for shining a bright light on how wonderful God is.
Thanks, Lisa. There’s not a better time to really know who God is and what God does than right now in our nation and world.
Your words are always Light to my soul, sweet sister! Thank you for this today!
You’re such an encouragement to me, Stacey, you bless me. The Lord is good, kind, loving and merciful; light, truth, holy and just. And this is what God does.
I am so grateful that no matter how things change in our world, our God remains constant – unchanging and faithful to His Word. It is always good to remind ourselves He cannot act apart from Who He is. Blessings!
I like this Joanne, “He cannot act apart from Who He is.” Such a powerful line proving He is merciful and acts with mercy; He is arrayed in holiness and performs holy works, and so on!
Karen, such a powerful word! Thank you for always sharing the whole counsel of God, including the fullness of His character and the completeness of His Word. You have captured it so clearly here, He is kind and merciful AND holy. Could we place our trust in a God who was not just, righteous, holy or true? Through Christ, He fulfills His holiness and in mercy makes a way for us who are not. Oh what a Savior! Isn’t He wonderful!
Yes, Melissa, what a wonderful and holy Savior! Thank the Lord, we know He is multi-faceted and pray we continue to fully recognize each of His attritubes as God in our lives and in the world. God is equally what God does!
We can trust in no other my friend; but God. What a timely and much-needed post. Have been deeply saddened this week to see the true status of America’s churches. I believe that’s part of the problem; they don’t want to be Christ’s church. God blessings ma’am.
Agree, J.D. The church of Christ needs to rise up and equally see God as not only good, kind, loving and merciful, but also as light, truth, holy and just. Because this is our God.
What a reassuring word for us, Karen! We can take heart in knowing God is all of these wonderful things. But I especially am comforted that He is truth. That’s keeping me anchored when I get off course, and I pray it does the same for our nation! Pinning and tweeting, my friend!
Appreciate you sharing, Beth. God’s truth definitely keeps us grounded in a culture that debates the “truth is relative” argument. If truth doesn’t have a starting point from a higher power than mere humans, who’s to know which version of truth to believe!
“God is what He does” – love that!
Ava, it’s so reassuring and comforting to know who God is and what God does and to grow and walk in this understanding of Him.
Karen,
How true that we love to claim the “warm fuzzy” attributes of God, but we are quick to forget that He is both Light and Truth and we need to lean into His guiding. Harder still is acknowledging that He is Holy and Just…that starts to make us squirm a bit, but I could not worship a God who was anything shy of ALL His godly attributes. Great post!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Love this, Bev: “…but I could not worship a God who was anything shy of ALL His godly attributes.” Yes! God is not 99% holy or just or good or merciful. Or, 99% God!
Karen, you’re so right. We need to consider all the facets of God’s character, not ignoring one “side” to focus on the other. all of these characteristics make up the essence of who our Father is.
Thank you for your spot-on, Bible-based post!
Thanks for this kind encouragement, Jeanne. I so desire to faithfully know the Lord and make Him known. Blessings!