The God we serve is omnipotent [all-powerful] (Jer 32:17; Rev 19:6), omniscient [all-knowing] (Ps 147:5; Pr 15:11) and omnipresent [everywhere present] (Ps 139:7-12; Pr 15:3). Everything in God’s marvelous creation bears witness to His creative genius and awesome power (Rom 1:18-25). This is why the Psalmist admiringly exclaims, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Ps 19:1). And again, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well” (Ps 139:14).
We serve a God who is sovereign and who protects us and provides for us through His providential care. God “works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Eph 1:11). He rules over all, possessing and exercising supreme power & authority over His creation. He is “Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph 4:6). God’s power is limited only by the dictates of His divine nature. In other words, He cannot do anything that is contrary to His character. For example, He cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Heb 6:18). Also, God is just. And because He is just, He must punish sin (Rom 3:21-26; 2 Thess 1:5-10).
This is the reason God sent Jesus into the world—to meet the just demands of the law and pay the penalty for our sins (Jn 3:16; 1 Jn 2:1-2). “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us!” (Rom 8:3-4). Because the sinless Savior paid the penalty for our sins (Rom 6:23)—God can now be both “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom 3:26; Heb 11:6).
This is the God we serve! “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies! (Rom 8:31-34). Being the recipients of such a marvelous gift (2 Cor 9:15), and having been given the wonderful privilege of serving the all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere present God, let us live the remainder of our Christian lives as “more than conquerors through Him who loved us” realizing that nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Rom 8:37-39).
Terry Schmidt
08-27-17
