The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
(Another Doctrine 101 consideration)
"The Divine Sequence"
When Moses came down from the mount with the revelation of God's Name - "I AM" - we may surmise disappointment in Israel, who would much rather have had the Lord to identify Himself as "I DO" (Exodus 3:13-14).
Of course, God exists as the greatest of all doers, performing "wonders without number" as the creator, sustainer, and power of all things. "The Lord hath made all things… by Him all things consist… upholding all things by the word of His power" (Job 9:10; Proverbs 16:4; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3). Every atom of the universe sprang into existence by Divine doings, and continues to exist by His maintenance. The truth remains, however, that with God, being is primary, and always precedes doing. This especially relates to His character and nature.
"Thou art good, and doest good" (Psalm 119:68).
God's actions do not affect His moral substance. He does not become better by doing good. His doings rather flow from His eternally unchanging nature of infinite goodness. "I do" always begins and continues with "I AM." "The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works" (Psalm 145:17).
No truth better establishes our proper understanding of God. The new believer should be informed of the reality before being placed in the spiritual crib. The mature believer must be continually reminded thereof as he seeks to walk with the Lord. Indeed, no Christian will venture far down the path of righteousness if he succumbs to the devilish temptation to alter, as it were, the Divine sequence of "I AM" first, and then, "I do." We must know the quality of God's heart because the ways of His hand often transcend our understanding by a vast measure (Isaiah 55:8-9). If we fix our focus on what God can do, our eyes will become clouded by tears very quickly, or diverted by doubt. Conversely, if we set our gaze upon who God is in the light of His Word and the working of His Spirit in our hearts, we will be increasingly enraptured with wonder as His goodness fills and thrills us.
"Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" (Exodus 15:11).
The Divine Sequence: Being. Doing. Let us plant this root of truth and reality deeply within our hearts. It will lead us to a greater love and appreciation for our Lord's heart, and a greater wonder and gratitude for the doings of His hand. Perhaps most tellingly, let us conclude by considering the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ, forever imprinted with the wounds of nails. A heart of goodness beyond all contemplation and imagining resulted in hands offered to piercing for our redemption. In such holy light, let us join the Psalmist in His sublimely perfect proclamation of the truth… "Thou art good, and doest good."
"Thou art great, and doest wondrous things: Thou art God alone."
(Psalm 86:10)
"I will speak of the glorious honor of Thy majesty, and of Thy wondrous works."
(Psalm 145:5).
Weekly Memory Verse
Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Romans 6:11)
6382
No comments:
Post a Comment