Author: looking2jesus13

December 16

Bible Reading: Psalm 145:3; Isaiah 55:6-9; Romans 11:33-36

We humans have limits. There’s only so fast we can run or swim, and only so much we can carry or accomplish. Our cars, computers, and even our own endurance are all bound by limitations. The very length of our lives is finite.

It’s difficult to fathom a God without limits. We tend to think of Him in human terms, often “putting God in a box,” as A.W. Tozer pointed out. We create a god in our image—one who is predictable and understandable, but not transcendent.

Because God is infinite, He is immeasurable and without limits. His transcendence goes beyond simply being greater than us—it exists in an infinite realm that is beyond our comprehension. We have measurements for things like length, weight, volume, speed, and power, but these are meaningless when it comes to understanding the boundless nature of God.

God is infinite. His being, His knowledge, His power has no boundaries. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours, as far as the heavens are from the earth (Isaiah 55:8-9). His love surpasses all understanding (Ephesians 3:18-19), and His forgiveness is as far-reaching as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Nothing is too hard for Him (Jeremiah 32:17), and He saves to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25). The peace He gives surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Truly, our infinite God works “far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

In his book Your God is Too Small, J.B. Phillips explores how we often reduce God to something smaller and more manageable. But we are called to trust the Holy Spirit to renew our minds and align our thinking with the truth of God’s Word. 

“How completely satisfying to turn from our limitations to a God who has none.”—A. W. Tozer

INFINITE GOD, TO THEE WE RAISE
Infinite God, to Thee we raise
Our hearts in solemn songs of praise,
By all Thy works on earth adored,
We worship Thee, the common Lord;
The everlasting Father own,
And bow our souls before Thy throne.

Thee all the choir of angels sings,
The Lord of hosts, the King of kings;
Cherubs proclaim Thy praise aloud,
And seraphs shout the triune God;
And, Holy, holy, holy, cry,
Thy glory fills both earth and sky!

God of the patriarchal race,
The ancient seers record Thy praise,
The goodly apostolic band
In highest joy and glory stand;
And all the saints and prophets join
To extol Thy majesty divine.

Head of the martyr’s’ noble host,
Of Thee they justly make their boast;
The church, to earth’s remotest bounds,
Her heavenly founder’s praise resounds;
And strives, with those around the throne,
To hymn the mystic Three in One.

Father of endless majesty,
All might and love they render Thee;
Thy true and only Son adore,
The same in dignity and power;
And God the Holy Ghost declare,
The saints’ eternal comforter.

December 13

Bible Reading: Exodus 3:14-15; Isaiah 44:24; Acts 17:24-25; Colossians 1:16-17

God is self-existent and self-sufficient, needing nothing outside Himself for His life and being. The question “Who created God?” is answered with a resounding “No one.” God existed alone, self-contained and self-satisfied, before creation. As Arthur W. Pink writes, “‘In the beginning, God’ (Genesis 1:1), when there was no heaven, earth, or angels—just God, from everlasting.”

There was no heaven, where His glory is now particularly manifested. There was no earth to engage His attention. There were no angels to sing His praises; no universe to be upheld by the word of His power. There was nothing, no one, but God; and that, not for a day, a year, or an age, but “from everlasting.”

Creation, including the universe, angels, and humanity, added nothing to God’s essential nature. God is unchanging (Malachi 3:6), and He had no obligation or necessity to create; He did so solely out of His sovereign will for His glory (Ephesians 1:11).

In contrast, humans are neither self-existent nor self-sufficient. Abraham Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs” outlines the basic necessities for human survival and self-actualization, emphasizing our dependence on the Creator. As A. W. Tozer notes, “To stay alive every created thing needs some other created thing, and all things need God. To God alone nothing is necessary.”

Sin, at its core, is rebellion, often manifesting as the belief that we can exist independently of God. In today’s secular world, many live as though the universe revolves around them, only to face frustration when the universe doesn’t comply.

Though God needs nothing from us, He created us in His image and sent His Son to save us from sin (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). By His grace, He calls us to serve Him, having prepared good works for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). The self-sufficient Creator, who needs nothing, deserves our worship.

“To stay alive every created thing needs some other created thing, and all things need God. To God alone nothing is necessary.”—A. W. Tozer

ALL POWERFUL, SELF-EXISTENT GOD
All-powerful, self-existent God,
Who all creation dost sustain!
Thou wast, and art, and art to come;
And everlasting is Thy reign.

Fix’d and eternal as Thy days,
Each glorious attribute divine,
Thro’ ages infinite, shall still
With undiminish’d lustre shine.

Fountain of being! Source of good!
Immutable dost Thou remain;
Nor can the shadow of a change
Obscure the glories of Thy reign.

Earth may with all her powers dissolve,
If such the great Creator’s will;
But Thou for ever art the same;
“I Am” is Thy memorial still.

December 12

Bible Reading: Isaiah 6:1-7; Isaiah 57:15.

Sinclair B. Ferguson describes God’s holiness as both a separation from sin and a wholeness that reflects God’s complete “God-ness.” To encounter God in His holiness is to be overwhelmed by the realization that He is utterly distinct from man.

Isaiah’s vision in Isaiah 6 vividly illustrates this. While Isaiah was a righteous man by human standards, nothing could prepare him for what he witnessed. Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a throne, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Above Him were seraphim, angelic beings with six wings, covering their feet and eyes in reverence, acknowledging the sacredness of God’s presence.

What struck Isaiah most was the seraphim’s cry: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” The repeated use of “holy” emphasizes God’s perfection. The foundations of the temple shook, and smoke filled the house. Overwhelmed, Isaiah cries, “Woe is me! For I am lost; I am a man of unclean lips…” His vision of God’s holiness forced him to confront his own sinfulness and that of his people.

Isaiah’s response was one of humility and repentance. R.C. Sproul explains that the Bible emphasizes God’s holiness more than any other attribute— “the Bible doesn’t say that God is mercy, mercy, mercy or love, love, love or justice, justice, justice or wrath, wrath, wrath, but that He is holy, holy, holy.” Even the lifeless doorposts trembled at God’s holiness. How, then, can we, made in His image, remain indifferent to His majesty?

In encountering God’s holiness, we are exposed for who we truly are, sinful and in need of salvation. Yet, it is in this encounter that we are drawn to seek Jesus, the only way to be reconciled to the holy God.

“Until we have seen ourselves as God sees us, we are not likely to be much disturbed over conditions around us.”—A. W. Tozer

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!
Unto everlasting days our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, Holy, Holy, Merciful and Mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, Holy, Holy! all the saints adore Thee;
Heaven’s elders cast their crowns down by the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim worship too before Thee,
Who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, Holy, Holy! though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see,
Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

December 11

Bible Reading: Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14

To think rightly about God, we must grapple with the doctrine of the Trinity—a truth that is both profound and challenging to fully understand. Though the Bible does not contain the word “Trinity,” Scripture and church history clearly teach and affirm the truth.

The doctrine of the Trinity teaches that there is One God who eternally exists in three distinct persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These persons are not parts of God, nor are they three modes of God, but co-equal, distinct persons who share the same divine essence, nature, and will.

The foundation of this doctrine rests on the clear teaching of the oneness of God. Deuteronomy 6:4 affirms, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (also 1 Timothy 2:5). However, the Bible also teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each God. For example, the Father is God (John 6:27; 1 Peter 1:2), the Son is God (John 1:1, 14; Hebrews 1:8), and the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16).

Throughout Scripture, we see the three persons of the Trinity working together in unity to accomplish great acts: creation (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16), the incarnation (Luke 1:35), the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:16-17), atonement (Hebrews 9:14), resurrection (Romans 1:4), and salvation (Ephesians 1:3-14).

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commissions His disciples to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The singular “name” points to the oneness of God, while the three persons are distinguished. This concept is reflected again in 2 Corinthians 13:14.

Some reject the doctrine of the Trinity, unable to reconcile how God can be both one and three. A. W. Tozer noted that those who deny this mystery often forget that life itself is filled with mysteries beyond human understanding. He writes, “Any real explanation of even the simplest phenomenon in nature lies hidden in obscurity,” and so it is with the Godhead. Praise God that we worship a Being whose ways and thoughts transcend our own (Isaiah 55:8-9).

“In one sense the doctrine of the Trinity is a mystery that we will never be able to understand fully. However, we can understand something of its truth by summarizing the teaching of Scripture in three statements: 1. God is three persons. 2. Each person is fully God. 3. There is one God.”—Wayne Grudem

PRAISE YE THE TRIUNE GOD
Praise ye the Father for His loving-kindness,
tenderly caring for His erring children;
praise Him, ye angels; praise Him in the heavens;
praise to the Savior!

Praise ye the Savior for His deep compassion,
graciously caring for His chosen people;
young men and maidens, ye old men and children,
praise to the Savior!

Praise ye the Spirit, Comforter of Israel,
sent from the Father and the Son to bless us;
praise to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
Praise to the triune God!

December 10

Bible Reading: Psalm 19

While stationed as a submariner in Pearl Harbor, I received a gift in the mail: a book titled Knowing God by J. I. Packer. My Uncle Bob Emrich sent it, along with a note that read: “Jerry…Believing the most important thing about a man is his thinking about God, I hope this will be profitable for you. With love and prayers for a Merry Christmas, Bob.” The book was indeed beneficial, but it was the note that truly impacted me—it introduced an important thought that God used to change me.

Uncle Bob’s statement was correct—but how are we to know God? At that time, I knew little about God. I did not know how to grow in my understanding of His nature. Theologians speak of God’s revelation to mankind in two categories: general revelation and special revelation. Psalm 19, which we read today, highlights both.

In Psalm 19:1-6, we see how God communicates truths about Himself through His creation. David, the Psalmist, observes the stars, moon, and sun, and declares, “the heavens declare the glory of God” (19:1). While these created things don’t speak literally, their “voice” is heard throughout the earth (19:4). The Apostle Paul echoes this idea, writing that we can see “God’s invisible attributes, namely His eternal power and divine nature,” in His creation (Romans 1:20). As powerful as general revelation is, it’s not sufficient on its own to bring a person into a saving knowledge of God through Jesus.

Psalm 19:7-11 shifts focus to special revelation, which is God’s direct manifestation of Himself through His Word. David makes six bold statements about the value of God’s Word, emphasizing its ability to revive the soul, make the simple wise, rejoice the heart, and enlighten the eyes. Through the gospel message, the Word leads us to salvation. Once born of the Spirit, we are indwelt to understand truths that were once beyond us (1 Corinthians 2:12-16).

As believers in Christ, how privileged we are! We have ready access to the Scriptures and are indwelt by the Divine Teacher (1 John 2:27). In the pursuit of knowing God, we have an inexhaustible source of study that can transform our thinking and, in turn, our lives—to the glory of God!

“What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we have in life? To know God. What is the eternal life that Jesus gives? To know God. What is the best thing in life? To know God. What in humans gives God most pleasure? Knowledge of himself.”—J. I. Packer

O WORSHIP THE KING
O worship the King, all glorious above,
O gratefully sing God’s power and God’s love;
our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

O tell of God’s might, O sing of God’s grace,
whose robe is the light, whose canopy space,
whose chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is God’s path on the wings of the storm.

Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
in thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail;
thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.

December 9

Bible Reading: Genesis 1

My heart resonates with the quote by A. W. Tozer: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” He also said, “We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God.” For the sake of both our worship and walk it is imperative that we respond to God according to how He has revealed Himself in His Word. For the rest of this month, our devotionals will focus on the attributes of God, and we will begin by considering a fundamental truth: God is our Creator.

The Bible begins with this powerful affirmation: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). From nothing, the self-existent God brought everything into being. Theologians describe this miraculous act of creation using the Latin term “ex nihilo,” meaning “out of nothing.” God created the universe, the stars, the sun, the moon, the sky, the seas, the land, all living creatures, and humanity itself. He simply spoke them into existence and called it all “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Since that moment, God’s “eternal power and divine nature” has been clear to all (Romans 1:20).

One of my favorite places is on the bank of the scenic North Umpqua River. After a mile-long hike through towering old-growth fir trees, I reach a stunning spot above a 30-foot drop where the river roars into a place called the Narrows. The sound of the rushing water, the beauty of the landscape, and the stillness of nature never fail to fill me with awe. On more than one occasion, I’ve found myself singing “How Great Thou Art” as I marvels at the grandeur of God’s handiwork. But you don’t need to travel to a special place to experience the wonder of creation. Wherever you are, you can look around and praise God for His incredible creation.

Take a moment to look around you. God created everything you see. If you are alive and breathing, give thanks! He created you as well. As the Psalmist declares, you are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Consider the magnitude of it all—those stars above are countless! The same God who created the vastness of the universe also crafted the tiniest particles in the heart of an atom. Scientists estimate there are over two million species of animals on Earth and over 300,000 species of flowering plants. All of this exists on a perfectly positioned blue planet—neither too hot nor too cold—revolving around the sun. The more we reflect on the wonders of God’s creation, the more we find to praise Him for.

The wonder of creation calls for us to worship our creator!

HOW GREAT THOU ART
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hands have made,
I see the stars; I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed:

Refrain
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze: [Refrain]

And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin. [Refrain]

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, My God, how great thou art! [Refrain]

December 6

Bible Reading: Acts 28:30-31

Acts 28:30-31, “He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.”

The Miliarium Aureum, a monument erected by Emperor Caesar Augustus in 20 BC, stood near the Temple of Saturn in the central Forum of Ancient Rome. It was considered the starting point of all roads in the Roman Empire, with distances measured from this central point. The phrase “all roads lead to Rome” is thought to refer to this monument.

Paul’s journey to Rome, though long and arduous, was part of God’s divine plan. After experiencing God’s grace in salvation, Paul was called to “carry (Christ’s) name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). He faithfully followed this mission, traveling over 10,000 miles during his three missionary journeys and a subsequent voyage to Rome. Along the way, he preached the gospel, established churches, and encouraged believers.  Though he faced fierce and relentless opposition, nothing could work to deter him from his mission.

God had ordained that Paul would travel to Jerusalem and then to Rome (Acts 20:22; 27:24), and no obstacle could change this plan. Rome, the heart of the empire, was the destination—home to Caesar, the most powerful man on earth, and the center of imperial authority. When Paul finally arrived, he was “allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him” (Acts 28:16).

By bringing Paul to Rome in chains, God placed him at the very center of the empire, where the gospel could spread throughout the known world. The phrase “all roads lead to Rome” became even more meaningful, as roads fanned out from the city, extending the reach of the gospel to distant lands. The command to preach the gospel to the “end of the earth” (Acts 1:8) was being fulfilled, even through Paul’s imprisonment.  During his time in prison, Paul continued his ministry by writing letters to churches in Colossae, Philippi, and Ephesus.

Though Paul was imprisoned for two years, nothing could stop the spread of the Word of God. The final words of Acts, “without hindrance,” are a fitting conclusion. Despite opposition from the forces of evil, both the church and Paul’s ministry triumphed. Jesus promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church (Matthew 16:18), and this promise held true. Today, Paul’s letters, written from a prison cell, continue to spread the gospel worldwide. The Word of God went forth “without hindrance,” and God’s plan for the spread of the gospel unfolded in ways beyond human expectation—demonstrating God’s sovereignty and the unstoppable advance of His kingdom.

“Your cross is lifted o’er us, we journey in its light; the crown awaits the conquest;lead on, O God of might.”—Ernest W. Shurtleff

LEAD ON, O KING ETERNAL
Lead on, O King eternal,
the day of march has come;
henceforth in fields of conquest
your tents will be our home.
Through days of preparation
your grace has made us strong;
and now, O King eternal,
we lift our battle song.

Lead on, O King eternal,
till sin’s fierce war shall cease,
and holiness shall whisper
the sweet amen of peace.
For not with swords’ loud clashing
or roll of stirring drums
with deeds of love and mercy
the heavenly kingdom comes.

Lead on, O King eternal;
we follow, not with fears,
for gladness breaks like morning
where’er your face appears.
Your cross is lifted o’er us,
we journey in its light;
the crown awaits the conquest;
lead on, O God of might.

December 5

Bible Reading: Acts 28:17-28

Acts 28:28, “Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”

The Apostle Paul loved his Jewish brethren.  His heart’s desire and prayer was for their salvation (Romans 10:1).  Their rejection of Christ caused him “great sorrow and unceasing anguish” (Romans 9:2).  For that reason, it had been his practice on his missionary journeys to first visit the local synagogue, but when the Jews rejected his message, they turned their focus to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46).

It was henceforth the Jews who antagonized Paul.  And, despite an attempt by church leaders to mediate their concerns, their hatred for Paul only escalated (Acts 21:17-36).  Their pursuit of Paul led to murderous plots, unfair trials, and a lengthy imprisonment.  That then led to the ill-fated voyage.  Despite all that, Paul made it to Rome, where he once again reached out to the Jews.

Paul gathered together the local leaders of the Jews.  From morning to evening, he expounded from Scriptures, trying to convince them about Jesus (Acts 28:23).  “Some were convinced but others disbelieved” (Acts 28:24).  Paul then explained how their rejection fulfilled that spoken by the prophet Isaiah (Acts 28:26-28).  They were rejecting Christ because they were hard of heart and hearing.  Stephen was stoned for saying much the same (Acts 7:51), but in this case, Paul’s hearers simply departed.

Theologically, Paul understood what was happening, for he had written about it: “A partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25).  But, as with the prophets of old, that did not stop him from declaring the truth.  On the other side of the coin is the opening of a door for the salvation of the Gentiles, and the spread of the gospel to the remotest parts of the earth.  And you’ve personally benefitted from that.  We are warned to not be prideful (Romans 11:17-25), but to focus instead on the kindness and mercy of God that has worked to graft us to God.  By His grace, God opened your eyes and ears to the truth (2 Corinthians 4:3-6), and that is an incredible blessing!

“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.”—Matthew 13:16

THE LOVE OF GOD
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell.
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin.

Refrain:
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.

When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall;
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s love, so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song. [Refrain]

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky. [Refrain]

December 4

Bible Reading: Acts 28:11-16

Acts 28:15, “And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.”

That the Apostle Paul would arrive in Rome was never in question, for Jesus had decreed it so (Acts 23:11).  But the journey there was an incredibly arduous one, in which Paul faced false accusations, hostile courts, murderous plots, lengthy imprisonment, utter shipwreck, venomous snakebite, and who knows what other kinds of troubles.  There was no vacation to look forward to.  No home to rest in, for he had no home.  But God worked through his people to refresh his spirit.

Three years earlier Paul had written these words to the church in Rome: “For I long to see you, that I may impart some spiritual gift to you—that is, that we might be mutually encouraged by each others’s faith, both yours and mine” (Romans 1:11-12).  He reiterated that desire in the conclusion of his epistle: “…that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company” (Romans 15:32).  So, having arrived, Paul takes courage in the refreshing presence of the brethren.  They longed to see him and came from afar.  But as much as they yearned to see the beloved Apostle, Paul yearned for their refreshing presence.

Fellow believers are like rays of light shining in this dark world.  As the darkness grows, they shine even brighter.  When the journey grows long and the burdens increase, there is no substitute for the encouraging presence of those who are traveling along the same path.  The choir of voices that sing in faith of the glory and grace of God mutually inspire all to persevere.  Hands reach out to weary travelers, keeping a watchful eye over those who are prone to wander and lifting those who have fallen.  Courage is availed to each in the presence of the many.

Believers are mutually encouraged on the Lord’s Day and once again sent out into a dark and hostile world.  The yearning for fellowship is Spirit-borne in us with the full realization that it is impossible for any of us to survive spiritually on our own.  The brethren refreshed Paul, and we need the same with each other (Hebrews 10:24-25).

“…but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”—Hebrews 10:25

BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS
Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne
we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes,
our mutual burdens bear,
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.

When we are called to part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.

This glorious hope revives
our courage by the way;
while each in expectation lives
and waits to see the day.