We are talking about communicating with God. This devotional reading finishes our look at why we should communicate with God.
Nuggets
- Because God created this world, He owns it — the land and all of the creatures in it.
- Because God created the world, owns it, and is supreme, He rules and judges it.
- One of the best things is God will rule forever as He is an eternal being.
To read devotions in the Habitual Holiness of Heart and Life theme, click the button below.
Devotions in the Commit to Grow Our Habits study
In the last devotion, we started a series on communication. Here, we continue looking at why we should communicate with God.
Let's Put It into Context
Here is a running list of nuggets for the series.
Here is a running list of nuggets for the study.
What Does the Bible Tell Us About God? (cont.)
God as Owner of the World
“The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein” (Ps. 24: 1 ESV)
Because God created this world, He owns it — the land and all of the creatures in it.
We like to selfishly think that the world is ours. This is especially true of the little section on which we live. We buy into the American dream of owning our own house (and the land it sits on) to show how successful we are. It is a good dream, something to work toward.
But we mistakenly believe that we can own everything. We don’t. Once we die, all our possessions transfer to someone else.
God has not transferred ownership to anyone. He holds it for our good.
Scriptures tells us this in many verses. “Who confronted Me [God], that I should repay him? Everything under heaven belongs to Me (Job 41: 11 CSB).
Every corner – every square inch – of this world belongs to God. That ownership includes everything and everyone that is in it.
What we know from Scriptures is that God spoke, and the world was created. We don’t know how that creation came about – if it immediately appeared “all grown up” or if it evolved into what it is.
How doesn’t matter.
The Who matters. God created the world by His plan.
As I said, other verses also tell us that God created all there is.
- “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine” (Ps. 50: 10-11 ESV).
- “The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them: (Ps. 89: 11 ESV).
- “The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land” (Ps. 95: 5 ESV).
- “The silver is mine and the gold is mine, declares the LORD Almighty” (Hag. 2: 8 NIV).
That plan shows God’s wisdom and power. Lunn wrote, “The more we learn of the Creator and His works the more must we [realize] His infinite wisdom and almighty power.” This knowledge of God’s existence and power must increase.
Resource
But God didn’t create it and then ignore it. He sustains it. He has His hand in every bit of it.
We can feel God’s presence in the world. When we recognize how His work displays Him, we recognize its importance.
Since we don’t see God, it is easy for worldview people to believe that we are more than just stewards of this earth. Swain agreed, saying God has given land to mankind, but kept the sea for Himself.
Resource
As Creator and Owner, God controls the environment. While our actions may affect the world, God is the one who controls the climate.
He made us stewards of the world. In Genesis 2: 15, God made Adam the caretaker of the Garden of Eden: “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it” (ESV). After Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden as consequences for their disobedience, God still had them tending the earth.
“… cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return … (Gen. 3: 17-19 ESV).
There are several verses that reinforce the fact that God is in control of the environment. Instead of just saying God is in control, most of these verses give specific examples of how God did control the environment.
But only stewards, we are. That means we have to respect God’s creation.
We can still see today how God controls the environment. Earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, drought, tsunamis, extreme heat, and extreme cold are all God’s doing. It is not man’s doing. We may say that our actions have created the potential for these to occur, but it is God’s decision whether or not they will actually occur.
Yep, God is the driver of this big universe. He doesn’t need our help.
We have to hook this back to what we were talking about in the last devotion. God is Sovereign God. He doesn’t depend on anyone or anything.
God doesn’t have to wait until either someone tells Him what to do or give Him permission. “The LORD does whatever he pleases in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the depths” (Ps. 135: 6 CBS). God is in charge.
It is our duty to communicate with the Creator of the world. Our prayers must praise and worship Him for His creation.
God as Ruler and Judge
“For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne” (Ps. 47: 7-8 ESV)
Because God created the world, owns it, and is supreme, He rules and judges it.
The Bible clearly says God rules over the earth. He didn’t create the earth and abandon it.
Instead, God created laws and commandments so that we can live in peace. He wants us to be more like Him.
True, we can’t see God face to face. But we know His character from these laws. They show us righteousness and justice. “The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne” (Ps. 97: 1-2 ESV).
I love what Jowett had to say. He wrote, “Yes, let the emphasis be first placed upon the lordship of God. Whatever appearances may seem to dictate, and, in spite of all evidence which suggests the sovereignty of the devil, the Lord is upon the throne.”
Resource
Ooo, baby! Doesn’t it seem like Satan is in control here on earth? Doesn’t it seem like God isn’t — and sometimes doesn’t care?
That thought is totally wrong! God has a tight grip on the scepter. He is totally on His throne.
Jowett reminded us that the moon is governed by the sun. Remember, it is only a reflection of the sun’s light. It produces no light on its own.
To apply that to this discussion, the sun rules the moon just as God rules Satan. The earth may be in perpetual night with regard to sin right now, but we know it as sin because if the Son’s reflection.
Many like to think of God only as a God of love. He isn’t. All of His laws and commandments have a consequence if broken.
Scriptures not only says God rules, but it also says He judges. Fortunately for us, He judges fairly. “Say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity’” (Ps. 96: 10 ESV).
God is the perfect One to judge the world. He will do it in mercy and grace.
- God’s mercy is an act of sovereign will that produces an unexpected and undeserved response from God as He responds in love to our needs.
- Grace is a free and unmerited gift of love from the Heavenly Father, given through His Son, Jesus Christ, that enables salvation and spiritual healing to believers by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Now, run through all of the attributes of God.
- Omnipotent
- Omniscient
- Omnipresent
- Eternal
- Self-existent
- Unchangeable.
- Sovereign
- Pure
- Jealous
- Wrathful
- Perfect
- Holy
- Just
- Righteous
- Faithful
- True
- Loving
- Compassionate
- Forgiving
- Goodness
To read a devotion in the Finding Our Center series, click on the button below.
Who wouldn’t want someone with those characteristics ruling them? God is perfect for the job.
God doesn’t change. “I have sworn by my own name; I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to me” (Isa. 45: 23 NLT).
Did you see that? Isaiah said the same thing Paul said: “for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” (Rom. 14: 11 ESV).
John saw what this is going to look like. “Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns’” (Rev. 19: 6 ESV).
And just think. We get to stay in communication with the Ruler of all.
God judges us and will judge us in the future. But He judges fairly. In fact, He judges with grace and mercy. He does not give us the judgment we deserve. Psalms 103: 10 says, “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities” (CSB).
Instead, because of His grace, God sent Jesus to earth to take the punishment we deserved (I Pet. 3: 18). God — the sovereign being Who is the Creator, Owner, Ruler, and Judge of all of us — devised a plan to redeem us. We mean that much to Him.
God as an Eternal Being
“He rules forever by his might; he keeps his eye on the nations. The rebellious should not exalt themselves” (Ps. 66: 7 ESV)
One of the best things is God will rule forever as He is an eternal being.
God has no beginning and no end. He has always been and will always be.
So, not only will we have the perfect One as Judge, but we also will have the perfect One as Judge forever.
Mom and Dad’s generation saw so many changes in their lifetime. Even in my lifetime, things have changed rapidly.
God is in control of it all. He always will be – regardless of the changes the future holds.
We can trust God to be Ruler and Judge regardless of whether tomorrow brings peaceful times or chaotic times. “The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever (Ps. 29: 10 ESV).”
Tucker gave us a comforting thought. He wrote, “There may be seasons when His people seem to be forsaken so that their enemies ask exultingly, ‘Where is now their God?’ And yet, even then, the answer is, ‘Our God is in the heavens; He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.’”
Resource
God will always be there in order for us to communicate with Him.
Making the Connections
God is the Ruler of creation. That doesn’t mean He automatically gives salvation to all.
We have to admit that mankind was separated from God after the original sin, making us sinners; believe Jesus paid the penalty for those sins to become our Savior and Redeemer; confess God as Sovereign God; and demonstrate that commitment by submitting to living our lives following His laws and commandments confessing God as Sovereign Lord.
The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
How Do We Apply This?
- Be humble, thankful, and submissive to God at the heart level.
- Value all of God’s gifts, not just the least valued.
- Grow in knowledge of God.
- Be prepared to acknowledge God’s character and strive to become like Him.
- Worship and praise our Creator.
- Be comforted that God is always on His throne.
Resource
Father God. You are the only One Who deserves our praise and worship. We commit to spend eternity communicating with You. Amen.
What do you think?
Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
If you don’t understand something and would like further clarification, please contact me.
If you have not signed up for the email providing the link to the devotions and the newsletter, do so below.
If God has used this devotion to speak with you, consider sharing it on social media.
Thank You for sharing this Elaine, it really helps me direct myself and learn more about the lord. I’ve been trying to get to more about god out of my own volition but I never know where to start, then I found this site and it’s been helping me out a lot on what to study and how to change myself in a way that pleases Him. May the God of light bless you and have a good day.
Thank you so much for the words of encouragement! God wants us to find a place to worship with like-minded people, but that cannot substitute for seeking Him for ourselves. I pray that you continue to hear the Holy Spirit’s soft prompting. Good luck navigating your Sanctification Road.