The Attributes of God Devotional - Introduction
“O LORD God of hosts, who is like You, O Mighty LORD?” (Psalm 89:8)
God reigns sovereign and supreme, even in strange times such as these. When anxiety and fear tempt us to set our faith on the shelf in favor of more “practical” approaches to life, Christians should be reminded that nothing is more “practical” than believing what the Triune God has revealed about Himself in Scripture, since that Truth is our anchor in turbulent waters and guides us as to how we should think and live in a period of uncertainty.
Our Adult Sunday School class has been working through a study (a series of devotionals, really) on the Attributes of God. His attributes are those characteristics or qualities that describe the perfect Being of God, such as His Triune nature and that He is Spirit, Infinite, Eternal, and so on. And when you think about it, the attributes of God are the vocabulary of prayer. When we pray, we can’t help but praise God for His Majesty and Beauty. God is His attributes, and so each one is a reflection of His divine essence. Since God is perfect, His attributes can’t be increased or decreased; they are all eternally and unchangeably present in Him, existing in flawless harmony. So God’s love is reflected in His holiness, and His holiness in His love.
Of course, the supreme manifestation of God and His attributes is in Jesus Christ. “For in Him the whole fullness of Deity dwells bodily” (Col 2:9). Jesus is the full and final revelation of God, since “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). We see the One, True God supremely and most perfectly in Jesus Christ, and we know the infinite and incomprehensible God through His Son, the Word of God.
These aren’t just Sunday School musings; God’s attributes are like sturdy planks that establish a sure foundation for real-world living. When Christians read, hear, or talk about the dreaded coronavirus, we do so against the backdrop of the virtues and perfections of Almighty God.
In future emails, our Sunday School teachers will highlight specific attributes of God and make application to our current situation, with the aim of providing God’s people with a biblical perspective for navigating unfamiliar terrain.
As Christians, we rejoice in God’s sovereign grace and providential care for His children. When the world around us is swirling in seeming chaos, we take refuge in the shield of God’s truth:
Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name, and what is His Son’s name?
Surely you know!
Every Word of God proves true.
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
(Proverbs 30:4-5)
Take heart, Brothers and Sisters: the Gospel is still True, our Sins are still Forgiven, and Christ is still King.