God of Kindness

      The Names of God in scripture are such a great blessing and help us immeasurably in seeking to understand and know our perfect God of holiness, God of wonders. Infinite in all of His qualities and attributes. Infinite, Personal, and without tension between or among His attributes, but all are in perfect balance and coalesce with all of the others. He is infinite in holiness so then each attribute is also holy as well as infinite. The same could be said of all of them. But each contributes to our limited understanding and they all add up to the Glory of God—who He is and what He does and has done and will do.

         What is God like? He's not “like” anything or anyone else in human experience. He is who He is in Himself. When Moses asked God His Name, God told Him, “ I AM THAT I AM,” the self-existent, eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent Creator God of the universe.

      If we want to “see God” or know who or what God is “like,” we look at Jesus because He is God and one of the purposes of His coming was to show us God in human flesh. That's what “Incarnation” means.

        “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. . . . No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. John 1:14, 18

            ^“I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God;” Isaiah 45:5

        What are some names of God that reveal different aspects of His character and attributes? Great God of Wonders, the Most High God, Jehovah Shalom (the God of Peace), the God of all comfort. And all of creation reveal something about God's wisdom, power, and goodness. He is our Rock and our Fortress, the Good Shepherd, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He is Our Father. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the God of Holiness and Righteousness. The God of Justice. God is Love. God is Light.

 

        But interestingly enough, in the English Bible, at least in the old King James Version, He is not called the “God of Kindness.” (although He is called the “God of Mercy” which is very similar.)

        That is a bit surprising when you think of how important a quality kindness is to God. He certainly is the God of kindness even though He does not bear that name in the old English Bible. Observe these verses, for example, to see how significant kindness is to God.. . Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, Nehemiah 9:17 KJV

        For his merciful kindness is great toward us: Psalm 117:2 KJV

       “ For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee,” Isa. 54:10 KJV

       I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.. Jonah 4:2 KJV

        However, in Hebrew we do specifically see God as “the God of kindness.” In Psalm 59:10 and 17 the Hebrew is translated “the God of my mercy.” The Hebrew word is checed, Strong's #2617. The primary meaning given in the lexicon is “kindness.” It can also be translated mercy or merciful.

        A similar word is racham which is so well translated “tender mercies” (and the adjective is in the Hebrew so that intensifies the tender feeling. Racham's primary meaning is “compassion.” And of course that takes us to that vitally important first chapter of 2^nd Corinthians where God is called “the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. . . “ 1:3

       Compassion is such a vivid word because it breaks naturally into prefix and root: “with” and “passion or feeling.” What a remarkable truth that God feels our sorrow and grief and He cares. “His heart is touched with our grief,” as the hymn writer expressed it. “Jesus was “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Isaiah 53:3 His death on the cross “brought us peace” 53:5 but it was at a terrible cost, “Out of the anguish of his soul” as well as horrible physical suffering. Isa. 53:11

       Since God in Christ was so tender and compassionate, what manner of people should we be who are told to “imitate” the Lord and to “follow His steps.” We are to reflect the life of Christ within us just as the moon reflects the glorious light of the sun. And a verse to carry with you to help you do that very thing is Ephesians 4:32 ^“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

        Our “God of Kindness” who called us to be holy as he is holy also calls us to be kind as He is kind “. . . so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Mt. 5:45

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Gal. 6:10 Go the “second mile” cheerfully and in kindness “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Gal. 6:2 “Love is kind.” 1 Cor.13:4 And it is part of the fruit of the Spirit: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. . . .” Gal. 5:22-23 ESV

January 13, 2013

The Wonder and Mystery of our God-directed Lives

        Today is the 3^rd Anniversary of Minnie's Homegoing to be with the Lord. She is with Him now and “in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11; 17:15

         Minnie never lost her sense of wonder at the goodness of God and the intriguing fascination of God's works in Creation. She herself was one of God's glorious works. She lived life with a sense of expectancy and joy. And at the end [though it was not the End, but the Beginning] she told Jeannine and me, “I feel that God has given me so much happiness in life! One of her favorite verses that she shared with me often was Ephesians 3:20 “He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. . . .”

         One of the books she delighted in was Ravi Zacharias, Recapture the Wonder—which Minnie never lost! She was always so delighted in babies and little children and their enthusiasm, which she shared. She loved to do things for them and with them. And she laughed a lot as she took pleasure in life. She told one of our granddaughters that even with cancer she tried to take pleasure in the good of that day and enjoy the company of whoever was with her that day.

          Ravi points out that to maintain our sense of wonder we need a thankful spirit guided by truth. And that truth is personal; it is personified in Jesus Himself who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. One of the marvelous names given to Jesus 700 years before He was born was “Wonder” ! It comes from that marvelous Christmas passage in Isaiah 9:6

^“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

        All those names mean so much. This child who was to be born for us, sent from God Himself, is Wonder.” In Hebrew the word is a noun instead of an adjective, adding even additional strength to the meaning. Isaiah uses the same Hebrew word used to describe the marvelous wonders that God did in bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt. Implied is not only marvel but mystery. It is a personal relationship with the God of Wonder Himself that gives meaning, excitement, and joy to our lives. He is the “Emmanuel,” God Himself with us in the person of Jesus, the Sent One, the Messiah from God the Father.

       “Great God of wonders! All thy ways are worthy of thyself—divine.

And the bright glories of thy grace Among thine other wonders shine.

Who is a pard'ning God like thee? Or who has grace so rich and free?”

         It is in communion with God that we find that sense of wonder, rejoicing in the works of God and always aware of the mystery of knowing Him, “whom to know aright is life eternal.” “Enchantment in life can never be realized in some thing; it must ultimately culminate in a person.” “Just as gratitude requires someone to whom we can be grateful, truth requires someone because of whom truth is possible. In both instances personhood is indispensable to wonder.” p. 104 Ravi Zacharias

       An essential part of wonder is to understand and experience love. And that happens in our relationship with Jesus. Love is “the quiet confidence of belonging to someone other than oneself; a commitment to a cause greater than oneself; a relationship that makes choices apart from the self; it is the root of unending sacrifice. When that love is found, wonder is sustained even in moments of great fear. But the how and why of such a love is a challenge.”

         ^“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the [atoning sacrifice] for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” 1 John 4:10-11

                                                                         --Bill Burnside

Affections on the world or on heaven? Quotation from John Newton (1725-1807)

Affections on the world or on heaven?  Quotation from John Newton (1725-1807)

"By these things, likewise, they are made more willing to leave the present world, to which we are prone to cleave too closely in our hearts when our path is very smooth.  Had Israel enjoyed thier former peace and prosperity in Egypt, when Moses came to invite them to  Canaan, I think they would hardly have listened to him.  But the Lord  suffered them to be brought into great trouble and bondage, and then the news of deliverance was more welcome, yet still they were but half  willing, and they carried a love to the flesh-pots of Egypt with them into the wilderness."

      "We are like them:  though we say this world is  vain and sinful, we are too fond of it; and though we hope for true happiness only in Heaven, we are often well content to stay longer here.  But the Lord sends afflictions one after another to quicken our  desires, and to convince us that this cannot be our rest.  Sometimes if you drive a bird form one branch of a tree he will hop to another a  little higher, and from thence to a third; but if you continue to  disturb him, he will at last take wing, and fly quite away.  Thus we,  when forced from one creature comfort, perch upon another, and so on;"   

"I direct my desire"

“I direct my desire”
What a helpful Psalm we have this morning! Psalm 25 begins with an idiom: “Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.” The ESV Study Bible explains that “to lift up my soul” means to “direct my desire” or “set my heart on.” It’s talking about the affections of the heart and implies a “longing” for something or someone.

Where should you direct your “desire”?? You must “take pleasure” in something or someone. What or who will bring you that deep satisfaction to the longings of your heart? Happiness, pleasure, fulfillment, satisfaction, delight–these are all good words which God alone can ultimately satisfy.

So “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2 As a deer thirsts for flowing streams of water, so “my soul thirsts for God, for the living God. . . .” Psalm 42:2 What a picture of great desire! Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Mt. 5:6 And the promise is still in the Bible, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

The next two verses of Psalm 25 tell us that we will never be “put to shame” or disappointed because we have a solid basis for our faith in the Living God who made heaven and earth. Those who found their hopes on vanity or emptiness and what doesn’t actually exist or is transitory and fleeting will be chagrined or put to shame. But those who trust in the Lord and look to Him will experience His saving grace and sustaining strength.

They “wait for Him” expectantly and He strengthens them in all He calls on them to experience. Our “solid rock” is “the God who is There,” His actual existence and Presence here and now. God is not just a “concept” or merely “an object of faith,” but a real Person who has eternally existed and who created the heavens and the earth and has all power in heaven and in earth.

King David then leads us in prayer,
“Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
“ Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.” 25:4-5
“Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
“The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
“Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.” 25:16-18
I look expectantly to you, O Lord.
–Pastor Burnside