The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
(Thanks to my brother and friend, Scott M., for inspiration on this one).
"This God"
Born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are monotheists. We believe "there is one God" (I Timothy 2:5).
However, we also know that human beings can - and do - act as if there are many gods. Believers also sometimes fall victim to the temptation of idolatry. Thus, we do well to maintain a running discourse with our Heavenly Father:
"Am I knowing You as You are, and understanding Your truth as it is?"
"Am I living as if You actually exist, and are the only living and true God?"
The Psalmist greatly illuminates our inquiry:
"For this God is our God forever and ever" (Psalm 48:14).
Which God? We actually possess far more light and insight regarding this most vital of questions than did the Psalmist. Believers have the completed Bible and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Thus, we can know "this God" in greater measure and substance than did our brethren of old. We must do so because our spiritual enemies possess far greater potential to communicate their errors to us than ever before. With the blessings of the communication age - "Knowledge shall be increased" - come many temptations (Daniel 12:4). The most serious involves the portrayal of God in either blatantly false terms, or more dangerously, in cunning deceptions that suggest a Deity too demanding to be approached, or too accommodating to be feared. Either way, "this God" can be exchanged, to our peril, for "this or that God."
The Lord Jesus Christ spoke to this vital matter in one of His most telling affirmations, laced with both promise and warning:
"He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38).
Many rivers flow from many bellies in this generation. We must set sail only upon those that proceed from the headwater of "As the Scripture hath said." We must believe in the Biblically-revealed Christ, being ever wary of "another Jesus" flowing in devilish and fleshly streams that sparkle with light, but which drown the unsuspecting in the darkness of deception (II Corinthians 11:4).
"This God." The living and true God. The God of Scripture. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The God who made and sustains all things. The God delightful to the trusting, but dire to the unbelieving. The God who works all things according to His eternal purpose in Christ. The God of grace, and the God of truth. This God. May He have much mercy in leading us to Himself, and may we determine we will love, worship, trust, obey, and communicate no other.
"Thou art God alone."
(Psalm 86:10)
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness."
(II Corinthians 11:13-15)
Weekly Memory Verse
He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(John 7:38)
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