How We View God by Paul Chappell “And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded them that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Acts 5:40–42 Despite all of the persecution and opposition that they faced, the early church was characterized by being joyful. They had joy despite their circumstances because they were focused on Jesus. When they were beaten, they still had joy, because they saw it as evidence that they were viewed as worthy by the One who had given His life on the cross. Joy flows from our knowledge of God and a focus on His nature and character. A. W. Tozer wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God. For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like.” The source of our joy is not the good things we enjoy or the pleasant circumstances we experience, but instead the God “who giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). Being saved does not make Him the center of our thoughts and actions—that is a responsibility we must fulfill as His children. Today’s Renewal Principle: A Christian who is focused on who God is will not find a lack of reasons for joy.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 10:20:20 +0000
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