Thinking of God Rightly
Day Two
by Gini Crawford, MSW
www.BecauseOfGod.com
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Don't worship a false image
In a popular novel, God is made out to be a very friendly woman. I think many of you realize that to describe God this way is completely unbiblical. I have also heard people say, "This story makes me crave God's presence." There is a problem with this, because they are yearning over a man-made image of God, instead of yearning after God Himself. To make God out to be someone He is not, is what the Ten Commandments tell us not to do.
You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God... Deuteronomy 5:7- 9 NASB®
The One True God is zealous that devotion be given exclusively to Him, and not to a false image of Him. Wouldn't it be disheartening to have people not to like or love you for who you are, so they make up a fictitious you? My family wanted me to be different than I was, but at least they didn't make up a pretend child. Don't create God by your, or someone else's preconceived ideas. Believe me, after years of knowing and studying God from His Word, I guarantee He is so much more wonderful than what anyone could make up.
To know God's Word is to think rightly of God
We can all have ideas of Who God is that are contrary to His Word. Before I started reading and studying the Bible, I used to think of God as a nice man, in a white flowing robe, who always had to sit down because he was so old. Believe me, that view of God didn't help me. God wants us to know the real Him, not a man-made idea of Him. The only place that you can find the real God is through His Word, the Bible. Other books can surely explain the One True God rightly, if their understanding of God comes from His Word.
Where do you go to get to know the One True God? Do you go to God's own words, the Bible, or to some person's writing?
Understanding God brings strength
The closer our understanding of God is to the truth, the stronger Christians we will be (Ephesians 3:17-19, 4:13-16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Let me explain this through a few examples. If you don't think of God as holy, then you will likely think you can sin (or disobey God) and He won't care. This is not true, because God is holy, just, and righteous so He hates sin, and will not tolerate sin. If you think of God as a friendly human, then you will treat Him like a person. Yes, God does want to be our best friend, but He is so much more than that. This type of god can't save you, or empower you because he is on your level. Do you really want to serve and worship a god like you?
Do you know if your view of God is right?
Thinking of God rightly will give you the desire to believe in Him, and as a result you will have eternal life. It will make you want to know His every single word to you, like a love letter. It will give you the longing to love, and serve Him. It will literally make you want to fall down on your knees and worship Him, as well as dream of the day you will be able to talk to Him face to face.
Life Application
Dangers of worshipping a false image
The book of Exodus in the Old Testament, is a very good example of how important it is to God to think of Him rightly. In Exodus, the One True God revealed Himself to the nation of Israel through signs and wonders, His presence leading them day and night, and a number of them seeing Him (Jesus Christ) in His glory. (Exodus 13:20-22, 14:21-31, 24:9-11; also John 1:18).
Even though Israel experienced God's miracles and presence, they still disobeyed God, and made a golden image of Him in the form of a calf to worship. God's anger burned against them because He had clearly revealed Himself to them, and had just told them not to make a false image of Him; which they heartily agreed to. Read Exodus 19:2-8, 20:18-23, 24:9-18, 32:1-14, 19-24, 31-35. Here are some other passages on creating a false image of God and worshipping it. Read Isaiah 44:14-17; Romans 1:18-25.
How do you think of God? Be honest.
What have you learned about the dangers or futility of creating a false god and giving that god your devotion?
Who should you give your devotion too? Read Romans 5:8-10; 1 John 5:20.
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