There are many common conversations concerning God. Does He exist? Where did He come from? What is He like? Where do we fit into His existence? Who does He think He is? Why do bad things happen to good people? And more recently: is He a she or a he?
We have been given the Word of God precisely so we may know Who our Creator is, what He values, and what He has planned. This is why He selected the Jews – not because they were better than any other nations, but He created a people to 1) record and protect His Word and 2) through whom He would send and save the world in His Son Jesus. They would know Him so the other nations could find Him.
Step one in getting to know Father God: begin reading His one woven Story by engaging with His Son in the four Gospels. Jesus is the lynch-pin for the rest of the God Story. Genesis 1-11 and the book of Job give us the foundation for our quest. Then the books of Moses paint a picture of our Creator’s heart. The kings, prophets, and the Psalms reveal the choices of mankind: no heart – a whole heart – or half a heart. These are our choices in life. His Story is one of recovered honor – and consequently – new life. Through His Son He re-creates the opportunity for new life through His “second Adam.” Are we going to believe His Word? Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (John 6:29)
Step two gives us the distinct privilege of seeing what happened with those who witnessed Jesus firsthand: His teachings, His life, and His miracles. All other religions pale in comparison to the Son of the One True God. From His first followers we observe the principles for spiritual success. What would you list as the three major things learned from the examples of Jesus’ first-hand followers? (such as: understanding and intense pursuit)
Step three involves (and requires) personal evaluation of our connectivity with Him. Our key for this is our belief. When we believe in Jesus His Spirit comes to live within us, causing us to grow in friendship with the King of the universe. This growth process can only be interrupted by a diminishing of our faith. We don’t have to be perfect – just deeply sincere. The reward is a restored connection with our Father and a renewed sharing in His Kingdom.
So we get to know God by embracing His One woven Story. There is only one testament – not an old and a new. This one story is that of the entire human race within the context of a perfect, unlimited, loving Creator and His Son.
√ We learn the one woven God Story.
√ We connect with the true non-religious Jesus.
√ We experience a return to Father-honor only Jesus can bring about.
√ We bring and build His Word into the connectedness of our lives: we actively choose honor.
There is peace in Jesus that transcends even the fear of death itself.
“Since the children all share in flesh and blood, Jesus Himself also partook of His humanity, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might set free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” Hebrews 2:14
Worth its weight in gold!
Dave and Burnadette