God

Who is God? Why did he create the universe and the people who live there? Why does he treat people the way he does?

What does the Bible say about God?

1. God's Purposes - Acts 17v24-29
2. God's Generosity - Matthew 5v43-48
3. God's Character - Exodus 34v5-7
4. God of mystery - Romans 11v33-36

God's Purposes

Acts 17:24-29

“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.

Questions for reflection or discussion

1. How did God create the world?
2. Why did God create the world?

Thoughts to consider

God as the creator is entitled to do with his creation as he wants. Yet, he treats us as his children, and he desires a relationship with us.

God's generosity

Matthew 5:43-48

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Questions for reflection or discussion

3. How does God (the Father in heaven) treat people?
4. What would it look like for you to treat people in this way?

Thoughts to consider

Our treatment of others is a reflection of how we value them. In love, God desires to draw all people to himself and is not looking so much at how righteous they are but what their next step is to come closer to him.

God's character

Exodus 34:5-7

Then the LORD came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh.
The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected— even children in the third and fourth generations.”

Questions for reflection or discussion

5. How does God describe himself?
6. How have you experienced compassion and mercy when you might have expected punishment?
7. What is the difference between being forgiven and being excused?

Thoughts to consider

When I look at my life I see many times when I would have expected swift judgement and yet was shown mercy. When I look at people who have harmed me, I presume to think they should be judged and yet they have often been shown mercy in a similar way.

God of mystery

Romans 11:33-36

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

For who can know the LORD’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

Questions for reflection or discussion

1. How does God compare his wisdom and knowledge with ours?
2. Why would people fail to understand God?

Thoughts to consider

God has known the desires and heart of every person who has ever lived. He has understood their motivations, desires and fears. He has understood the forces involved in the universe from quarks to quasars. His comprehension and wisdom cannot be compared.

Overview question for reflection or discussion

1. How would you summarise the Bible's understanding of God?
2. How do you see God at work in your life in these ways?

Thoughts to consider

God is greater than we can imagine. Yet he comes down to relate with us at our level.

Photo Credit

Photo by Cherry Laithang on Unsplash