“God is so Great”

I was reading some blogs written by folks in our church last evening, and found two great statements by two young men in our church. Micah Ellis, my assistant, has a blog worth your reading (www.bensfriends.com/mestudios) and Jeff Burgess, one of our Deacons. His blog too is worth your time. You can find it at jeffnem.blogspot.com. You will also find great pictures of some of our churches other young families.

I am so very thankful for the young adults the Lord has given to our church. He has brought some great thinkers our way, but thinkers who are want their thoughts to be subject to the Word of God. It is a pleasure to pastor guys like these and their families. The Lord has blessed us with a great balance of people of all ages. I praise Him for the privilege of being the pastor.
What a choice church!

Oh don’t get me wrong, we are not without our difficulties, weakness, and failures. But I thank God for what He is doing and the desire of the hearts of His people to seek Him.

Let me share with you what Micah posted in his blog and then Jeff’s comment. This was posted

September 1, 2005:
Disregard for God

“There would simply be no nation without God. But he is disregarded by our cultural leaders in almost all they do. Disregard for God is the greatest evil in the West today. It is as though an ant on his anthill should disbelieve in the earth. “ - John Piper from “Taste & See”

The disregard for God in our age terrifies me. It better terrify you too. The one who holds our lives in the very palm of His powerful and just hand is viewed as an option in our humanistic culture. Since arriving here in Maine I have been confronted with this philosophy more than I want to mention. It churns my stomach. I long for the light of God’s glory to flood main street and for saved and unsaved to understand for the first time who they are dealing with.

Sometimes the things we fear the most are closer than we liked to admit.

Jeff’s comment is: You're right about it being closer than we like to admit. I just read Pastor's blog and he quoted the part from Job that you read last Sunday and God's words gave me chills to read them--because I forget all too easy the fragility of our existence. Sometimes I wonder how God can be so patient and can hold back His strength for so long.

When we think of the Greatness of our God we must think of it within the confines of His character. That is another way of saying our God is Great because His Attributes are Great, or we could say, our God is Great because He is GOD!

Each of His attributes must not be taken without regard for all the other attributes. For example He is Holy, He is love, etc…. Yet His holiness is expressed in His love and His love is expressed in His holiness. He can’t stop being any of the attributes or He would cease to be WHO He is, God.

We think of the Love of God and we think, our God is so great!
We think of the Mercy of God and we think, our God is so great!
We think of the Eternality of God and we think our God is so great!
And we could go on and on.

Our Great God is tremendous. He is all that His attributes declare Him to be. So when we consider Him we cannot think of His attributes competing against each other. There is a very good example of this principle in Habakkuk 3:2 O LORD, I have heard thy speech, [and] was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

To focus only on the love of God is to not do justice to the character of God. To only focus on the justice of God is to not do justice to the character of God. To only focus on the mercy of God is to not do justice to the character of God. Each attribute works in harmony and consistency with the character of God.

Our God is far Greater than His creation, yet men, especially in our area of the country, much prefer the creation over the Creator. Isn’t that sad? On Sunday I mentioned to our folks how very sad it was to see people bow to worship the sun (which I have seen here) when they could bow and worship the Creator of the sun!

So here is the point. It is found in the Psalms. Psalm 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man , that thou art mindful of him?

I am glad that the God of the Bible is Holy and Righteous and Just, all is consistent with His character. But as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ it is our privilege to rest in His Sovereign Grace and Mercy, which are also consistent with His character.

Folks, our God is not an “option” for you. The Bible is very clear, all must bow to Him one day; you must be born again; He is the Judge of the whole world. There is only one option for mankind today that guarantees forgiveness of sin and life eternal - “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!” Trust the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, today!

Have a wonderful day serving our Wonderful Lord, by Grace Alone.