Getting to know God’s characteristics will enable you to get to know Him better. Romans 1:20 teaches us that, God’s character, or who He is, is seen and understood by the things that He has made.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
I would like to remind you, to look for God’s character in His creation. If you have ever seen the movie, March of the Penguins, you saw the sacrificial love the penguins have for their young. I thought, “Wow! What an example of God’s love.”
Let’s begin with the most important of God’s characteristics to us. It is His love. God’s love permeates who He is. God is sovereign, but His rule is acted out through His love. God is all-powerful, but every act of His power is done because of His love. God’s act of creation was an act of love which resulted in life for all things.
God is love.
“Agape” is the Greek word that best describes God;s love. Agape means, unselfish love that is driven by what is best for the person loved, not by the person loving. Agape love is a verb. ( a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence) In other words, it is an unselfish, unconditional, and sacrificial love. I think we think God loves us out of duty not out of desire. However, “agape” love suggests that the lover finds joy in acting on that love for something or someone.
The Hebrew word that best describes God’s love is defined by the word “hesed”. This word is translated love, unfailing love, loving kindness, mercy, and loyalty. It is used about 250 times in the Old Testament. It means loyal, steadfast or faithful love. It also stresses the idea of belonging together for those involved in the love relationship. Both words make me think of the joy and the total commitment a bride and groom have for each other on their wedding day. God has been waiting eagerly to love you!
- Read about God’s love from Jeremiah 31:3, Hosea 2:19-20, Zephaniah 3:17, Ephesians 1:4, 2:4-5, 3:17-19, 5:2, 5:23-32, and Revelations 19:7-9. Write down any insights and applications that the Spirit is giving you from these verses.
- What does God’s love mean to you? Use a Bible verse in your answer. (Example: When I feel unloved, I think about the fact that God loved me so much that He died for me. (Ephesians 5:2))
- Love should permeate everything we do. God tells us and shows us how to love through His Word, with His Spirit. We will never completely agape love anyone because it is a supernatural phenomenon coming from the God of love! God does want to empower us to come as close to His love as humanly possible. Take some time with God right now and ask Him to empower you to love someone you don’t particularly love, with His type of love. Prayerfully thank Him for His love of you!
We see God’s power in creation. Wouldn’t it have been quite thrilling to have seen God create the visible universe from things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:3)? When I think God spoke the universe and our world into being without lifting a finger, I am dumbfounded with such power. Let’s take a look at God being all-powerful.
God is omnipotent which means all powerful, almighty.
Many leaders throughout history have done awful and quite horrifying things because they have the power to do them. Think of Hilter. Just turn on the TV and you will hear how someone has misused his or her power. No one or nothing can stop God from doing what He wants to do with His power. Aren’t you so glad His power is permeated by His love? If you doubt that His love leads His power, just think about His willingness to put His son under the control of sinful men and die from a man-made torture, death by crucifixion, out of His love for you.
- Read about God’s power from Psalm 62:11-12a, Daniel 4:34-35, and John 11:33– 45. Write down any insights and applications the Spirit is giving you from these verses.
- What does God’s power mean to you? Use a Bible verse in your
answer. (Example: When I am powerless to change my situation, I need
to trust in God, who can turn death into life. (John 11:43–44))
- No one in history has been all powerful like God except for Jesus Christ. Some people would like to be all powerful, but thank God they are not. Power does seem to corrupt sooner or later. As Christians, God certainly won’t make us all powerful, but He does want us to have access to the power we need to live the right way, which is His way. We get His power by being connected to Him through His Spirit (Acts 1:8). Personalize 2 Timothy 1:7 by writing the verse out and putting your name where the word “us” is.
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.