Understanding God

July 4, 2010

Understanding God

For whatever reason I feel compelled lately to spend more time learning more about God. I believe I already know what God wants for me and from me and I feel very comfortable talking with God, thanking Him, asking of Him, and just sort of, well, being with him. What I believe I am searching for is an understanding of how God thinks. Now this may be an understanding that is way beyond my abilities but I can’t help but think that this is what God would like us all to pursue. Through the prophet Jeremiah God tells us that we should not only know Him but also “understand” Him for in this He delights.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 -- ...but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the Lord; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight.

Now, of course, the best source for understanding God is the Bible and I believe that the Old Testament contains countless insights into how God thinks. So, I have begun to once again read the Old Testament. (As of this writing I am about half way through Exodus.) As I re-read the Old Testament I am consciously seeking to understand why God is doing what He does when He does it. I am finding that in many cases God reveals to us in the Bible why He does what He does but unless I am looking for the “why” this can be easily missed.

Now I am not so sure that we as mere mortals can truly understand how God thinks. Through the Prophet Isaiah God tells us that His ways are higher than our ways.

Isaiah 55:8-9 -- For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Yet in Proverbs we learn that God expects us to seek His “higher ways”.

Proverbs 25:2 -- It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.

And in James we learn that, if we ask in faith, God will reveal wisdom and understanding.

James 1:5-8 -- If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

So, I will push forward, trying to better understand how God thinks and why He does what He does when He does it.

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Endure and Let Your Light Shine

1 Corinthians 10:13 -- No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Hebrews 10:36 -- For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

Proverbs 13:9 -- The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

Matthew 5:14-16 -- let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 10:32-33 -- ‘Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.”

The Great Commission

After Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection He returned in the flesh one last time to His apostles and instructed them in the Great Commission. These are Christ’s last words of instruction to us, as recorded by Matthew, before his final ascension to the spirit world.

Matthew 28:18-20 -- And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’*

Padre Pio

The Way to Heaven
What does it matter to you whether Jesus wishes to guide you to Heaven by way of the desert or by the fields, so long as you get there by one way or the other? Put away any excessive worrying which results from the trials by which the good God has desired to test you; and if this is not possible, resign yourself to the Divine will.

Make Yourself at Home
It is just as well to make yourself at home with the sufferings that Jesus is pleased to send you as you must always live with them. In this way, when you are least expecting to be liberated from them, Jesus, who cannot bear to keep you long in affliction, will come and relieve you and comfort you, giving you new courage.