Understanding Who God Is

Grace to You.org ^ | 1997 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

“Walk . . . with all humility” (Ephesians 4:1-2).

The more we comprehend the greatness of God, the more humble we will become.

God is not given proper respect today. He is often flippantly referred to as “the man upstairs”—more of a buddy than the eternal God. Many see Him as nothing more than a cosmic Santa Claus or an absent-minded grandfather who winks at sin.

Unfortunately, even Christians can be affected by these views. Such sin dishonors God and undermines the next step to humility: God-awareness. Instead of getting our ideas of God from the world, let’s look at what the biblical writers say about Him.

David said, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Thy name in all the earth, who hast displayed Thy splendor above the heavens!” (Ps. 8:1). As he contemplated the exalted position of God, it was only natural for him to say, “What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him?” (v. 4). We are so minuscule by comparison, it’s a wonder He cares for us at all. But “though the Lord is exalted, yet He regards the lowly” (Ps. 138:6).

Isaiah 2:10 says, “Enter the rock and hide in the dust from the terror of the Lord and from the splendor of His majesty.” When you compare yourself with God, you’ll want to hide under a rock. Verse 11 gives the crux of the issue: “The proud look of man will be abased, and the loftiness of man will be humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.” Pride is the sin of competing with God. It lifts self up and attempts to steal glory from Him. But God says, “My glory I will not give to another” (Isa. 48:11). God will judge those who exalt themselves. God alone is worthy of exaltation.

As you seek humility, remember that you won’t obtain it by sitting in a corner wishing for it. Rather, you’ll gain humility by sitting in that same corner and reciting before God your sins, failures, and inadequacies, then opening the Scriptures and seeing God in all His majesty.

Suggestions for Prayer

Pray that you would see God for who He really is, not how the world sees Him.

For Further Study

Read Job 38—41. What aspects of His greatness does God emphasize to Job? Make a list of the most prominent ones.

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

I’ve been reading through Jeremiah recently and while I’ve heard what a depressing book it is and how he’s the weeping prophet and all, I never heard anyone say how much this book really reveals the heart of God.

Looking beyond all the judgment and poor treatment of Jeremiah by the people, the heart of God for people to repent and turn to Him shines through. Jeremiah preached and God warned for at east 28 years.

God does not deal out judgment lightly. He wants to forgive and bless and almost begs people to turn from their sin to avoid it, so He can heal and bless them.

He spared Ninevah for 40 years because they turned and repented at the preaching of Jonah.

The idea that the God of the OT is a God of judgment and condemnation, is just not borne out if you can get past the judgment part.

[BuddhaBrown]

Thanks for the inspiring words and reminders.

Jesus confirmed both the patience of God and the importance of a humble attitude toward Him when, in Matthew, He told us how to be more like Him. By being ready to forgive brethren 7 times 70 times. Instead of pridefully thinking we are better than God at determining when someone is beyond forgiveness.

“As you seek humility, remember that you won’t obtain it by sitting in a corner wishing for it.”

I agree. And folks should remember as well that when seeking humility and confessing/repenting as you wisely suggest still does not mean He’s going to wave a magic wand and change you into a humble person. He’s more likely to present you with opportunities to practice being humble in your daily life. And the more you pray for it, the more He will give you the wisdom to recognize those opportunities rather than changing you to be subconsciously humble.

Also, I look at Jonah, in a way, as being a warning against saying you want to be humble but not actually trusting His will. God wanted Jonah to preach to Ninevah but Jonah kinda thought he was smarter than God by sacrificing his own life instead of helping Israel’s enemy. Of course, God was a step ahead of Jonah and, after tempering his pride with a few days ride in the belly of a fish (significant to Nivevites), he was delivered to the Nivevites anyway and given the opportunity to practice as he preached.