Posted on 09/09/2008 7:14:05 AM PDT by colorcountry
Jeremiah 7:23 But I gave them this command: Obey Me, and I will be your God and you will be My people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you. Read Psalm 50
Who is God
Mighty One. Righteousness. Everlasting. Creator. How many names of God can you think of? How many descriptions and titles are attributed to Him? There are dozens of words in the Bible God uses to describe Himself. Psalm 50:6 highlights one in the particular that should be kept in mind as this study on discernment progresses: God Himself is Judge.
In the midst of a song extolling the power and majesty of God, His work of creation and His ownership of all this is, we are brought back to earth with the declaration of God’s supremacy over humankind. What does that mean to us? It means that He has authority and power. In fact, He is our ultimate authority. He has power to sentence us to condemnation, or to save us. God’s words and commands to us are found in the Bible; it is, therefore, our Authority. It is crucial to remember that this devotional is not just people’s opinions – it highlights what God says.
God warns in Deuteronomy 18:19 that, “If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in My name, I Myself will call him to account.” This is a stern warning we would all do well to heed. We believe the Bible is the Word of God through His prophets so we must be diligent to obey. But what about Prophets outside of the Bible? The question, of course, comes down to knowing whether someone claiming to speak for God is a false prophet, or a true prophet. That is what we will be examining over the next few weeks as we learn how to discern truth from error.
Our prayer is that God will use this devotional in you life to give you a deeper understanding of the importance of discernment. May you become skilled at using the tools He has provided for your safety and His glory.
PRAYER POINT
Pray that God will help you to take Him at His word, trusting the Bible’s accuracy, and that you will submit to Him as your Authority.
Debate of any kind is not appropriate on a devotional thread. They are closed, i.e. to be treated as if they are occurring behind the closed doors of a church. -Religion Moderator
Previous Devotionals in this series
Non-Denominational Ping
He’s just this guy, you know?
LOL, He is a "guy" I know very well.
Jeremiah 9:24
but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.
Excellent discussion.. and question...
With a plethora of "Gods" on this planet.. the question invites a good dialog.. In my studies there are psuedo-gods, demi-gods, poly godlike mental constructs.. Then there is the Judeo christian God.. As I can determine this God stands alone.. "WHo is God", invites an interesting display of constructs.. Even atheists make themselves Gods by determining there is no God.. a relatively Hindu approach..
Care to describe a "poly godlike mental construct"?
Hinduism.. and Buddism.. and fleshly christian world views that are basically Cargo Cults..
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. - John 8:58
hosepipe,
As a Christian I can tell you that there is not a plethora of “gods” on this planet. And if you know that His name is Yahweh, you know that He is the only one.
One definition of "cargo cult" that I found: "Typically, all cargo cults begin when someone claims that, through a dream or vision, supernatural powers have told him or her that a messiah and the ancestors or spirits of the dead will soon return bringing huge supplies of manufactured goods.
Their arrival will usher in a wonderful new era when the believers will have their identity, dignity, and honor restored. Inequality, suffering, and death will cease. The riches of those they think have so far monopolized wealth and defrauded them of their share will then belong to the cultists.
Sounds distressingly familiar.
If so be, then future comments (of some) might be very interesting..
There are many iterations of Cargo Cults.. Like the evolution of religious memes of human evolution.. If carried thru back to orgination some people observe a muddy pool of proteins.. others observe variations of that orgination.. and yet others demur from carrying back the "Cargo" that far.. and leave the origination to some other random happenstance..
The meme of "GOD" then is implied.. What is God?.. remains.. Humans as opposed to "other" primates invented God as a concept.. then promply got scared and disinvented him/it.. Disassembling GOD I see as monkeys(say chimps) trying to understand a Rolex watch.. It is shiny.. makes noise, appears very unnatural, and makes MOVEMENTS.. There are also other chimps in the trees watching the inspecting chimps wondering what they are doing.. what the big deal is..
You are quite WRONG... many people view their creator in hundreds of ways.. Whether there is a REAL God or not I have not addressed.. yet.. Many are searching for a God, or even an originator of things.. as a "force" of some kind.. People search with what they have to search with.. with the tools they accept.. The search is real and profound..
In the judeo christian search, God finds YOU, you do not find God.. as I see it.. Thats the way is should be I think.. The Holy Spirit is a deep truth, that many are oblivious to.. for various reasons..
Thank you for your comments hosepipe.
Please take care that your conversation does not spiral into a debate. This is a devotional thread. It is meant for reflection, prayer and thought - discussion is welcomed as long as it is respectful.
I take the ten commandments literally, hosepipe. I believe that Yahweh is the only God. Being a Christian, I cannot believe otherwise.
You talk about people searching for god.
I tell you I found God, not a god. This means that I accepted Christ as my savior. Just existing within God’s world did not save me. It was by accepting Christ and His gift of grace that I finally found him.
God did the work on my soul, most certainly, but I had to fall on my knees to accept it.
If you cannot see this distinction, it means that you are unable to accept my faith in God and what I believe at its face value.
That’s your problem, not mine.
And none of your pontificating will convince me that I have not found Him.
Your opinion is valid.. I accept it..
My opinion may differ somewhat..
No debate of any kind is allowed on Devotional threads.
I agree.. even though the subject begs for discussion.. The character of the discussion, this discussion, must be monitored..
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