JULY 9
Psalm 135:18, “Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them.”
I love this quote by A. W. Tozer from his classic book The Knowledge of the Holy: “We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God. This is true not only of the individual Christian, but of the company of Christians that composes the Church. Always the most revealing thing about the Church is her idea of God, just as her most significant message is what she says about Him or leaves unsaid.” Tozer begins his book emphasizing the critical importance of thinking rightly about God. What we believe about God doesn’t just inform our theology—it shapes the trajectory of our lives. The most defining reality of any church, and any believer, is their view of God.
An attribute of God is something that is true about Him. And it matters deeply that we seek to know those truths—not in vague or abstract terms, but through Scripture, where God has revealed Himself. As we search the Word, we begin to grasp the beauty and weight of His attributes: His holiness, love, justice, mercy, omniscience, and more. We begin to plumb the depths of His transcendent nature and discover a God who is not only infinitely glorious but also deeply personal.
This pursuit of knowing God rightly is not just theological—it’s transformational. As our understanding of God expands, so does our worship. And remarkably, by the Spirit’s work in us, we are shaped by what we worship. Paul exhorts believers in Ephesians 5:1 to “be imitators of God.” This is no small calling. But as we behold Him—through His Word and in worship—we are being formed into His likeness.
In stark contrast to this, the psalmist in Psalm 135 speaks to the human tendency, in sin, to invent gods that reflect our own preferences and desires (Romans 1:18-23). But such gods are no gods at all, and it is in vain that any would endeavor to trust their lives to lifeless gods. The psalmist exalts the living God—the one who “does whatever He pleases” (v. 6), who redeems His people, judges justly, and is worthy of true worship. Rather than creating a god to serve us, the psalmist calls us to worship the true God who is alone is worthy. In the pursuit of Him, He shapes our lives accordingly.
“The human heart is a perpetual factory of idols.” — John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion
Application Questions: Is my understanding of God shaped more by Scripture or by my own preferences, feelings, or cultural influences? What steps can I take to align my view of God more closely with who He truly is?
LookingtoJesus 