Prayer & Fasting, Day 11: God is Good.

And God saw all that he had made, and behold, it was very good. (Genesis 1:31). This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
 (1 John 1:5).

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17).

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. (Psalm 145:8-9).

“God is great, God is good...” I remember praying this as a child... usually very rushed, because it was just before eating. But I don’t think I was so very unlike I am now—rushing past the goodness of God. Most of us simply assume that if God is there, he is surely good. But what does it mean to say that God is good, and how does that become good news for us?

First consider the fact that everything God makes is good. God has never made a bad product. He’s never created a human and done so poorly. Seven times we are told in Genesis 1 that what God made was good. That should give us pause to consider ourselves and our world. There is an innate “good” quality to us and the world around us. Eventually, that goodness became marred and tarnished by the fallenness of our first parents, but we must see that at first, everything was very good. Today, goodness is hard to see. So very often we are faced with the results of our sin. And yet, we still bear God’s good image as a race, and as individuals. God’s goodness means that we, even after our fall, can still experience some level of goodness here on the earth.

Also consider that everything God does is good. We have—as a result of our blindness caused by sin—a knee jerk reaction to blame God any time something really bad happens. “Where are you God?” ask the pundits and talk show hosts, never pausing to consider that God is good, not evil. “In him there is no darkness at all,” we are told. But we are blind to the fact that we should not be blaming God, but praising him. Anything God does is good, because God himself is good. Goodness is an essential part of his nature. God will never do anything evil, wrong, hurtful, or malevolent to us. This means that we can trust him above and beyond all others. It’s not just that God does good, he is good—goodness itself.

Today, let’s not hurry past the good news that our God is totally, completely good. Let’s pause and thank God, along with the psalmist, that the Lord’s grace covers all that he has made, and he treats all of his creatures with goodness.

God, thank you for your unstoppable goodness. Thank you that you are kind, gentle, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love for me. 

Thank you God that because you made me, I am not beyond your redemption. I am not so messed up that your grace cannot save me. Thank you that in you, I can share in your goodness. Apart from you I can't do anything, but with you, Jesus, I can know real goodness. 

Help me today to share the goodness of God with others. Just as there is no evil in you, let evil be far from me. Keep me pure, just like you. As I praise you for your goodness, make me better too.

For Jesus' glory, amen.

Prayer & Fasting, Day 10: God is Sovereign.

The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! (Psalm 97:1). Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. (Psalm 115:3).

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. (Ephesians 1:3-4).

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 
(Romans 8:28-30).

“You are not in charge!” she said. My teacher looked so frustrated that tears were beginning to form in her eyes. I had always been a good student, but somewhat hellbent on taking over the class, leading the discussions, etc. After some time not taking direction well, she had lost all patience and had to raise her voice to get my attention. Now, I don’t fault her for it. I readily admit that I really liked to be in charge. In fact, I think that all of us do.

It’s no surprise, then, that the sovereignty of God is a subject of debate among us humans. Sovereignty is the character trait of a sovereign—a Lord or ruler. Sovereigns reign, and rule, and we typically don’t like that. Ever since our first parents rebelled against God, we’ve been doing our best to run our own lives, being masters of our own destinies—or so we think. But when this attitude bumps up against the unchangeable rulership of God almighty, friction happens. But I hope to convince you that God’s sovereignty is a trait which shouldn’t make you rebel, but worship.

God’s sovereignty means that he and he alone rules over the affairs of the world. The book of Psalms is replete with praise for this fact. “God is in heaven and he does whatever pleases him,” the joyful songwriter sings. For him, that was very good news, worthy of writing a song about. “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice!” sings another. It is an unspeakable wonder that we not only know that God rules the world, but that we know him. Because we’re in relationship with God through the grace of Jesus Christ, we are relationally connected to the one who holds the universe together and providentially oversees every part of it, from the greatest celestial body to the smallest subatomic particle.

However, God is not only sovereign in nature. His rulership extends into our lives as well. This is especially wonderful, because we are uniquely broken. Ephesians 2 tells us that all of us, apart from a work of grace, are dead in our trespasses and sins. Dead. Not sick, not hurt. Dead. But, God (who has more mercy than we can imagine) has reached down into our dead hearts and made them alive! Our response is repentance and faith, and we are made members of God’s family—adopted sons and daughters of the King of Kings. If God were not sovereign over such matters as our hearts, then we would not, indeed we could not, be saved.

For God’s people, his sovereignty continues to be a fountain of praise. Romans 8 reminds us that nothing can befall God’s children—not even the things which seem horrible—that will not ultimately work for our good and for God’s glory. Why? Follow the verse. God has foreknown us (which is a biblical word which means “loved before all time.”) He set his love on us as the bridge of Christ. And if he’s done that, then he is sovereign enough to carry us all the way through our calling, our growth, and even rising together with Christ in our future glory. In short, the sovereignty of God assures our salvation, our sanctification (growth in holiness), and our glorification, when we will be united with Christ forever.

The choice for our us is simple. Shall we go on insisting that we really run the show, like I did with the teacher, or shall we joyfully run to our sovereign God who rules the universe with unending love and wisdom. For my part, I want to choose worship.

Prayer & Fasting, Day 9: God is Love.

The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness...
(Exodus 34:6). For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:8-10).

The love of God is greater news than a short devotional can possibly contain. But today, I’d like to consider the love of God from two important perspectives. First, I want to consider love as God’s personal trait, and second, his love for sinners like you and I.

It’s extremely important for us to know without shadow of doubt or disbelief that God is love. Doubt about this will shake the foundation of our relationship with him. It’s not merely that God is loving, but that God is, in his nature, love itself. The Apostle John explored this concept frequently, reminding us that God is love. In doing so, he connected a confession of the New Testament believers with the confession of the Old Testament. In Exodus 34:6, we read an oft-recited passage, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness...” That phrase, “steadfast love,” is an important one. It employs a Hebrew word called chessed. This word stands for the unstoppable, relentless, untiring, sinner-chasing love of God. It’s not a mere feeling. It’s a decisive, rescuing love. It’s the love of God, shown.

Perhaps you’re thinking, “that’s great, but how am I supposed to know that God loves me?” Good question. It’s all well and good to be told that God loves you. But, it’s another matter entirely to be shown. Love is connected to cost. If I say I love you, you might feel nicely about that, or you may not care. But if I say I love you and pay off all your debts, then my love for you simply matters more. I’ve shown great love for you through a generous gift.

God’s generous self-sacrifice takes us to our second consideration—the love of God for sinners. Because God is love, his love for us isn’t arbitrary. His love for sinners is a part of his nature. So to bring us back to himself, it was he himself that would have to make the greatest sacrifice.

“In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that God loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” This is scandalous if true. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross isn’t an expression of love. It’s the expression of love. If God has proven his love for me and you in this way, then to not return love to God is sin of cosmic proportions. But to be caught up in a love relationship with God on the basis of his son’s sacrifice, this is a privilege of unparalleled wonder.

I understand that sometimes it’s hard to feel the love of God. We have days where our emotions betray us into believing that we are unloved, ugly, and worthless. But God has better news for us, and regardless of how we feel about it, it’s true. God loves you and I with the kind of love that embraces death for the sake of the other. God loves us like this. May we, therefore, be filled with such love as we live for him!

God, you love me. Today, help me to remember that. When I feel unloved, bring to mind all that you've done to prove your love to me. And Jesus, cause me to overflow with the same love for you and for others.

Amen

Prayer & Fasting, Day 6: God is Limitless

The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. (Deuteronomy 33:27). Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31).

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8).

Nothing about infinity makes sense to us. We simply can’t relate to it. All our experience is marked by beginnings and endings. We’re born, we die. Sunrise, sunset. Arrive, depart. So when it comes to meditating on God’s boundless, limitless, timeless nature, we’re dumbstruck. How are we to make sense of infinity, much less celebrate it in God?

All throughout the Scriptures, the limitlessness of God is seen as a catalytic source of hope and comfort. In Deuteronomy, the people of Israel were given the laws of God, being reminded (even after their disobedience) that covenant with God was still possible. Here he reminds them, “I am your eternal dwelling place, and my everlasting arms hold you.” See, God’s infinity is actually wonderful news for us, because unless God is limitless in wonder and strength, then relationship with him isn’t all that great.

What do I mean? The law of diminishing returns. This is that law of human experience that says that the second time you do something, it won’t be as amazing as the first. They say that addicts are always chasing after their first high. Concert goers are constantly seeking that next great musical experience. We know, if only from our life experience, that nothing lasts forever. “All good things must come to an end,” we’re told. We believe it, and move on. If God were limited, then he would be no different. He would end, and we would have no hope.

But God is different. Because God is eternal, infinite, and limitless, we know that we will never run out of God at which to be amazed. We’ll never exhaust his power, wonder, or perfection. That’s why relationship with God is so wonderful. God is the only being who can ceaselessly and eternally satisfy the longings of our heart. Each moment with God leads to greater wonder, on into forever.

His limitless power is source of great encouragement. But sometimes, we need reminding. In Isaiah, we read such an encouragement. Ours is the everlasting God. He does not get tired. He does not need a rest. He does not stop pursuing us. And what’s more, he does not run out of power and passion to pour into our hearts. He is the beginning, and he is the end.

Our limitless God has a name—Jesus. Jesus states repeatedly in the Revelation that he is the alpha and omega. He’s the bookends to existence, and that’s great news of us, if we know him. If Jesus is our treasure and joy, and if we’re his by grace, then we wonderful future. We will see him forever, and every consecutive moment with him will be greater than the moment before—forever!

Jesus, thank you for your limitless worth. You will be praised forever. Today, uphold me. You are the everlasting God. You don't grow faint or weary. You don't run out of strength or wisdom. Please sustain me with your mighty right hand, and your infinite might.

Today, as I consider all I must face, all I'm praying for, and all that we're asking you do as a church, help me to also consider your strength and power. You will never run out of grace or help, and for that I will praise you forever.

Amen.

Prayer & Fasting, Day 5: God is Powerful.

And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. (Genesis 1:16) Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God! (Psalm 68:35)

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. (Hebrews 1:3)

Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen. (Revelation 7:12)

Genesis 1:16 is one of my favorite verses in the entire Bible. It’s the last three words that really get me, “...and the stars.” The power of God is so great that the entire universe of stars gets barely a mention, as though speaking the cosmos into creation were nothing for God. What breathtaking power God must have.

Often, however, the power of God isn't the subject of praise, but worry. Many people are uncomfortable with the sheer power of God. In our world, we’re used to seeing our leaders abuse power. “Power corrupts,” they say, “and absolute power corrupts absolutely!” Why, then, is it good news for us that God is unimaginably powerful?

First, God’s power fuels our worship. I remember watching the olympics as a boy. The event was weightlifting. Watching the power of the athletes on the screen, I was dumbfounded. I simply didn’t know how to process, as a little boy, the power that it must take to move such heavy, seemingly immovable objects. I admired these men for their strength. You and I are wired to be impressed by rare power like this. How much more, then, should we take a moment to consider the power of God and let our hearts loose to wonder at it.

But God’s power isn’t just for God’s sake. He uses his immense power for our behalf. In Psalm 68, David is praising God no only for having all the power, but for empowering his people with it. Are you facing a tough spot? Isn’t it great news to think that God is powerful enough to overcome whatever you are facing? When all we have is the impossible task in our view, we can become discouraged. But step back, and take a look at God’s power. Now we have reason to praise, even though what is ahead looks impossible.

We can also consider the immense humility of God in light of his power. In Jesus, we see the all-powerful God pulling back his might, putting on flesh, and walking among us. Hebrews tells  us that even in this state, the universe was being upheld by God’s power, and yet he was approachable to us. He didn’t explode onto the seen Hollywood-style, making demands for repentance. He withheld his power to become like us, even unto death for us.

It is for this reason that we will praise God’s power for all eternity. In Revelation, we get a preview of the power of God as fuel for praise. We will stand and sing with all the saints of God, “Amen, Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever!” This is our heart’s cry, because our powerful creator empowers us, saves us, and rescues us. That’s like gasoline on the fire of our worship.

Today, pause to reflect on God’s power, and ask him to bring that power to bear in your life, your church, and your city. He is well able to accomplish all his gracious will if we ask.

 God you are mighty and powerful. You created the universe, spoke the stars into existence, and keep them all burning for your praise. You are mighty, God.

Thank you for being mindful of me. It's amazing to consider that you made all this, and yet you care about me. Thank you for letting me share in your power to overcome sin, brokenness, and all that stands between me and you. You are strong, God, and able to overcome all obstacles in my life today.

Jesus, I cannot wait to join with the billions of voices from every tribe and nation to praise you for your power. Even though you are limitless in strength, you became nothing so that I could know you, praise you, and be satisfied in you. You are unspeakably wonderful, and I love you.

Amen.

Prayer & Fasting, Day 4: God is Lord.

God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. (Exodus 3:14-15). I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. (Jeremiah 24:7)

Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? (Luke 6:46).

[Peter said,] Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. (Acts 2:36)

“Lord” is not a common word these days. When we stop and think about the word, our minds may drift back to old England, when lords and ladies ruled the land. This image—one of pageantry and position—perhaps gets subtly imported into our concept of God. Maybe we imagine him to be some aloof monarch who’s not paying close attention to his lands. Perhaps we might misunderstand God as Lord to mean that he’s overly concerned with his own position and authority. So, what does it mean to say that God is Lord?

Let’s consider the passages of Scripture we just read. When Moses was commanded to go and be God’s instrument of rescue, he was told that God’s name as “Lord” (Yahweh) would be his name “throughout all generations.” So, God’s pretty concerned that we get his name correct—and the primary name he chooses is, Lord. But largely, we’ve forgotten this. Israel forgot too, which is why Jeremiah prophesied as he did, that God would give his people a new heart to know that he, and not anyone or anything else, is the Lord. He prophesied that those who are truly God’s people would return to the Lord with all their heart. So, we must first observe that God’s Lordship means that he is the object of our supreme allegiance and devotion.

Now perhaps you read that and it all sounds a bit stale. “Supreme allegiance?” Sounds like God’s a control freak, right? Not at all. God’s in control whether we recognize the fact or not. I can deny that gravity exists, but I’ll do so with my feet on the ground. Similarly, we may deny implicitly or explicitly that God is truly the object of our allegiance and devotion, but it doesn’t change the fact that he should be.

And, therein lies the problem. In our sinful brokenness, we don’t want God to be Lord. We want to be Lord. We live in a world full of little lords. We wish to rule ourselves, lead ourselves, even live for ourselves. Is this you? Ask yourself this question—what about your life right now do you want God to mess with the least? Is it your career? Kids? The way you spend money? Is it what you do with your body or your view with your eyes? We are the very people to whom Jesus would pose the question which has asked in the Scripture above, “Why do you call me Lord and not do what I say?”

We’re all so quick to run to savior Jesus, aren’t we? We love the idea of total acceptance at no cost. But, there is a cost. Of course Jesus’ rescue and redemption was totally free to us and infinitely costly to him. However, when we come to him, we lose the right to be our own lords any longer. We no longer belong to ourselves. We belong to him. Coming to Jesus is the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s words as we “return to him with our whole heart.” Not part of the heart, the whole.

Jesus has come to rescue and redeem us, and that is glorious truth. But salvation is completely entangled with the Lordship of Jesus. When we come to him, it’s because we’ve left ourselves. Coming to the foot of the cross involves arriving at the end of yourself. That means that from then on, Jesus rules, he reigns, and we follow him.

Sin was a rebellion against the lordship of God. This rebellion was finally overcome, however, in the great news of the Gospel of grace. Because Jesus Christ has come to put to death in his own body the insurgency against God, we can find new life as redeemed citizen of his Father’s kingdom, living happily and passionately under his Lordship. Now, Jesus sits at the right hand of God almighty, and as his redeemed people, we follow him. What exceptional grace this is, that our treasonous rebellion has been quelled not by our punishment, but by God’s gracious gift to us in Christ.

 Jesus, thank you so much for quelling my rebellious heart. Your perfect life was one I could never live. Your death on the cross was a death I deserved. And your resurrection is amazing news to me—that you, my King, have overcome the grave I deserve so I can know you, and follow you. God, thank you for freeing me from sin and freeing me unto obedience. 

Today, take total control of my life. Rule everything—money, sex, career, family, politics—everything about me. I give myself totally and fully to you because, Jesus, you gave yourself totally and fully to me. I love you, my Lord and King. Help me follow you today.

Thank you God, amen.

Prayer & Fasting, Day 3: God is Trinity.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light...” (Genesis 1:1-3a). In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made ... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1,3,14).

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20).

I remember leading a Bible study at Harvard University about the Trinity when one law student piped up, “I believe in it, but I don’t know why it’s all that important.” It is my hope that by the end of this brief devotion, you’ll see this reality about God as one of the most foundational and beautiful truths of your faith.

In Genesis 1 we read the account of creation, and it’s here we find the Trinity (God in three Persons) at work in making everything. God creates, the Spirit hovers (or flutters, much in the same way a mother bird does over a nest), and the Word is spoken. One God with three distinct parts (later to be called persons) active in creation. What could this mean? Well, all by itself this passage is interesting, but hardly gives us the fully formed doctrine of the Trinity. It’s not until Jesus Christ shows up that we get a real commentary on Genesis 1. And from whom does it come? The Apostle John.

John connects the “word” spoken at the moment of creation (and then God said, “Let there be light...”) with the person of Jesus in the passage above. Don’t skip over that. Let this sentence leave you jaw-dropped just as it would’ve left John’s original audience. The Word spoken by God the Father at creation—the idea and intention of his heart—has been made flesh, and his name is Jesus Christ. This is a mind-blowing claim to make, for sure. But the fact remains the Bible clearly teaches that God is one God, eternally existent in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

We know that the Trinity is the treasure of the people of God because it is in the name of the Triune God that Jesus’ disciples were to go into the world. The whole motivation of the mission of God in Matthew 28 above is the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (“Go into all the world ... in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” Matt. 28:18-20). In short, the mission of the church is to be done in such a way that the name of the Trinitarian God revealed in the Scriptures gets turned up, enjoyed, exalted, and honored. If the mission of the church is trinitarian, then the mission of our lives is too, because we’re part of the church!

Because God is Trinity, we know three important things about him. First, we know that our Creator is our Redeemer. That is, Jesus isn’t some lackey God sent to do the dirty work of dying on the cross. No man, no demi-god, no angel would’ve been a sufficient mediator between God and humanity, because only God could fully satisfy the debt of our sinful brokenness, (Hebrews 1:1-3). Jesus is the Word present at creation, the very second person of the Godhead, given to us for our redemption. Secondly, because God is Trinity, we know that he is with us. God the Son sent God the Holy Spirit (John 15:26) to dwell within believers, giving us immediate access to God. Now, can know God in a way deeper than a man knows his best friend. And finally, because God is Trinity, we know we are freely and radically loved. Think about it—if God weren’t Trinity, then who would he have been loving before he created the world? No one! In fact, God would need us in order to be loving, because in order to be loving you must actually love someone! But, because God has always existed within a deep, profound, and infinite love relationship within the Godhead, the love he has for you and me isn’t a co-dependent, needy love. No, this is a full, overflowing love that has come to us by grace.

What does it mean to live with a radical awareness of God as Trinity? It is to think on the free love of God in creation, in redemption, and in restoration. When we come to God, we come to a full being who delights to draw us into a deep, satisfying love relationship, not a needy, lacking one. Your Creator has become your redeemer, and your redeemer has sent the Holy Spirit to live within you; a deposit guaranteeing that you will live forever with him, (Eph. 1:13-14).

God, you are truly Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Today I choose to delight in the wonder and mystery of your nature. You are great, God! Father God, thank you for planning my creation and my redemption. Jesus, thank you for causing my existence and for coming to live perfectly for me, to die for me, and rise for my new life. Holy Spirit, I rejoice that you have watched over me, and that you now dwell within me, giving me a new nature and heart to know God has an adopted member of the family of God.

Today, help me to live with a greater awareness and thankfulness of your nature. As you have called me to “go” in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, would you now help me to do just that. Because of my life, cause people to rejoice in your name, and to come to know you as you are—the Triune God.

You are so gracious. Thank you for revealing yourself to me.

In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.

Prayer & Fasting, Day 2: God is Creator

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth. (Genesis 1:1) Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. (Isaiah 40:28)

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. (Psalm 19:1-2).

Creation is the glorious effect of the cause of God’s will. This is a subject of considerable wonder, given the kind of creation in which we find ourselves. To say that the universe is vast is a laughable understatement—traveling at light speed, it takes over 150 billion years to travel across the cosmos. To say that it is complex and delicately made is to almost trivialize how complex and delicate it actually is. The universe that you and I inhabit is an enormous, lovingly made home designed to tell us something about the God who made it.

The first thing to note about God’s activity in creation is that it’s something that only God could do. The Bible uses an interesting word to describe God’s activity in creation. When God creates, he bara ’s—a unique Hebrew word which means to create or initiate out of nothing. Only God can do that. We make things out of pre-existent stuff, but God does not. God makes from nothing. In his fullness he approaches the emptiness and void of nothingness and fills it up with everything.

The simple fact is, you and I require a creator. We are contingent beings—contingent on being made. God is not like us. God does not require a creator, because God is eternally existent. He is the source of all life, the giver of the world we inhabit, and for this fact we should be utterly amazed by him. When you go outside and stare up at the starry sky, or when you go inside and stare into a microscope, our breath should be taken away at the intricate wisdom with which God made the world that you and I call home.

So why does this matter? Let’s consider two reasons. First, the world God made was a good world. The Scriptures tell us seven times in Genesis 1 that God’s creation was good. So the world, prior to sin, was good. This means that stuff (money, food, our bodies, etc.) is neither totally evil as the ascetic, religious people tell us, nor is totally good, like the materialists say. Instead, the “stuff” of creation is given for a different purpose, which is the second reason this whole discussion matters: God made you and I and everything to declare his glory, greatness, and power. Like a living painting, like a moving sculpture, the world of worlds spinning in harmony from the greatest celestial body to the smallest subatomic particle is given to us to cause us to say, “Wow, God. You are amazing.” At bottom, the universe isn’t about us. Creation is all about God! This doctrine should drop down into our hearts like a match into a box kindling, causing the fire of our love for God to blaze brighter, just like a star in God’s creation—burning passionately for the glory of God, and our deep joy.

God you are the maker of all things. I exalt your power and infinite intelligence and wisdom with which you made everything! The Bible tells us that in you we live, move, and have our being. Thank you for creating me. Thank you for creating the world in which I live. Since you’re the Creator of all things, you own everything. Help me to live out my day today dependent on you. 

God, you made everything, so you know how it works best. So God, please give me wisdom today how to live rightly. I want to experience your glory, and the comfort of being constantly aware the I know the creator of all things. Thank you for this grace, creator God.

In Jesus name, and for your glory, amen.

Prayer & Fasting, Day 1: God Is.

Today at Aletheia, we decided that if Jesus is central, then truth is central. Here's the fact, if we're going to grow up in Christ, then we must look at him. We must know him. We must celebrate him and enjoy him. So, for the  next 40 days, I'm going to be posting short devotionals designed to help you put your eyes on God. The hope is that by doing this, we'll know him better, love him better, and be more empowered to love our neighbor.

So, I hope you enjoy these, and that they propel you toward Jesus.

Prayer and fasting, day 1: God is.

In the beginning, God... (Genesis 1:1a)

God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” (Exodus 3:14a)

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. (Revelation 22:13)

I grew up in a place where most people agreed that God existed. Many of those same people, however, never lived their lives any differently because of the fact. Sometimes the biggest gap in the world lies between what the mind acknowledges as true and what the heart lives for. Your mind may agree that God is there. Your mind may even have a few opinions about God. But has this changed you? Your behavior? The way you perceive yourself and the world around you? Is the fact of God’s existence one which presses in on you, frees you, informs you, impassions you?

The first scripture comes from Genesis. “In the beginning, God...” Stop. Before the world exists, God. Before you exist, God. Antecedent to all life, God. Prior to physical, temporal, spatial reality, God. What does this mean? God is supreme—above all that we know and experience, and the great cause of it all. He is foremost in the list of important beings, because he is the first. He is primary. He is the star of the whole story of the Bible, and he is the main character right through the plot.

After God creates, he calls a man named Moses to act as a deliverer to his people who were in bondage. What was the name that God gave Moses to most succinctly and satisfactorily describe himself? “I AM.” That is, of all people and things which exists, God is saying “I exist the most.” Of all realities that have been, God is saying, “I precede them all.” And, of all futures that will comes, God is saying, “I will outlast ever one of them.” Thus he ends the entire story by reminding us one more time, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.”

Why does any of this matter to you? Because the story, the Bible, the faith, the whole matter of following God and being a disciple of Jesus is Christ is, at bottom, not about you at all. It’s about him. It’s all about him. Every drop of ink, every atom in the universe, every star which shines, and every mind which wonders at them twinkling in the night sky through the ark of history—all of them are about God.

God is more foundational to you than you are foundational to you, and that is wonderful news for you. What you believe about him, hope about him, and deeply know about him won’t just sit in a statement of faith somewhere in a drawer. No, these beliefs about God are the matters of the soul which shape absolutely everything you and I do. What one believes—really believes—about ultimate reality is the foundation for everything he does. Thus, the journey starts today by making the simple and ineffable reality known—God is, and that is the most important fact in the world.

Sunday Review: What's at the Center?

Fact: Your life will center on something. The only real question is, on what? Or better yet, on whom? This Sunday at Aletheia we kicked off a new series called Centered, which was my direct assault on the temptation we pastors feel to preach try-harder-do-better sermons at the beginning of each year. Each new year brings with it a bunch of unmet resolutions, promises that won't be kept, and visions of grandeur which will never be achieved. Why? Because at our core, we don't want them. Obtaining those goals doesn't live on the inside of us. What lives inside us will always, always, rule what's outside.

As a result of Sunday, a few observations came to mind:

If Jesus Abides at the Center, I Can't Not Grow Abiding isn't a word we use much these days, but it basically means "to live with." It's not a one-time word, it's an ongoing activity. I abide with my wife because we share a home, a life. Similarly, for Jesus to abide at the center of my life means that I'm in constant fellowship and communion with him. How? As my friend Steve Murrell likes to say, same. old. boring. strokes. We pray, we fast, we ask, we obey. And you know what, those little habits of drawing near to Jesus draw him near to us. The result, growth. It just can't not happen.

If Jesus Abides at the Center, We Can't Not Grow Like the first point, but for our church. I'll be honest, I hate church growth books. I've read a bunch of them, and most of the time I feel either condemned or falsely hopeful. But if Jesus is really dwelling at the core of this church, then our biggest problem will be what to do with all the fruit. We abide, he guarantees fruitfulness.

Jesus' Love Language is Obedience My love language is words of affection. My wife's is acts of service. But Jesus is different, because Jesus isn't our peer, he's our Lord. If we truly wish to love Jesus, then we'll obey him.

2013 is Going to be a Great Year I think that this year will be the most fruitful that Aletheia has ever seen. I'm not confident in this because I'm a great pastor (cause I've got plenty of problems). It's not because our "show" is so glamorous (because it's not). I'm confident because God's grace is sufficient to keep Jesus at the center of our affections this year. So, that's what I'm praying for us, church. Jesus, be the center. Everything else will take care of itself.

Jesus, Thank You for 2012

I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. (Ps. 138:2)

Today is the last day of 2012, and for my part, I'm going out on thankfulness. Was 2012 challenging? Yes. Was it hard? Absolutely. But the mercies of God were so apparent in so many ways, that I'd be remiss if I didn't note a few of them.

This year, God grew me. I won't bore you with all the ways, but my Lord loves me, and he's growing me up to be a better man of God. That happened a little bit this year. On the family side, he grew that too, giving us a new son. Also, I've deepened in my love for my wife and my children are growing in grace. On the church front we've made many new disciples, and God has graced our church with phenomenal growth, unheard of in this area.

The point here isn't to list out all my blessings for you read, but to show you just how simple and beautiful the process of doing so can be for you. The simple fact is, without gratefulness for past grace we'll be blind to future grace. I believe 2013 will bring more Jesus-bought, God-given grace than I can imagine. Challenges? Sure. But I want to posture my heart in gratitude to God for all he's going to do in 2013. How do I that? By thankful for some of what he's done in 2012.