Righteousness

This morning I began my study with a verse in Proverbs.  It was Proverbs 21:21 and it dealt with Righteousness.

 21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life, righteousness, and honor.
Proverbs 21:21 (ESV)

As I pondered that verse and considered the guidance it offered me I began to think of the greatness and glory of God…  and from there this became a morning of reflection and praise more than a specific Bible Study.

The Quote

The quote is one I picked up in a study I did right after the stroke.  I was in some need and I turned to God.  The quote was by A.W. Tozer

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”― A.W. Tozer

Think about that for a moment…  What could be more defining than what we think of when we think of God.

How do We See Him?

My friend Phil and I talk about this frequently.  We took this study together some time ago and just this last week we spent a good amount of time discussing this.

We each have our own images that come to mind when, but there is one common thread and a common thought that comes to both of us.

The first is our God spoke the universe into existence.  We both end up back in Genesis 1 and or John 1 when the discussion begins…

 

Genesis 1:1-5 (ESV) 1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

John 1:1-5 (ESV) ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Power and Humility

It is inevitable when we discuss the quote from Tozer that these two passages will also be discussed.  One of God’s awesome power to speak the world into existence.  The other to discuss His Unending Love and His willingness to surrender all that power to join us and, in obedience to the father, die to pay the debt of our sin.

Images

Phil and I have our own images that come to mind during this discussion.  Many come from Revelation.  Others come from the Gospels.  Some from the Old testament, but we agree together that none can fully describe the power and wonder of God in our lives.

Oneness

The other thing that comes up is His omnipresence.  That too is more than I can imagine…  God is everywhere all at the same time touching the hearts of those who love Him.

I must use another quote from Tozer that I read this morning…

“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”

― A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

What an image that left in my mind.  Jesus and His Holy Word are my tuning fork and growing Close to Him brings me closer to those around me of like mind.

Growing Toward God

Pat and I often talk of a triangle and when we talk about how God affects our relationship.  Our friend Steve turned us on to this image.  In our relationship, we form an equilateral triangle.   Jesus is at the top Pat and I are on the other opposing corners.  As we strive to grow closer to God we cannot help but grow closer to each other.  The image warms my heart and strengthens our relationship with God and each other.

Closing Thought

How wonderful it is to take time and simply give thanks and worship to God!  I am filled with thanksgiving when I consider how wonderful it is that He has shared Himself with me in His Holy Word, prayer and the gift of the Holy Spirit.  There is nothing in this world that can compare.  My last quote by Tozer this morning seems to fit for me…

“Sometimes I go to God and say, “God, if Thou dost never answer another prayer while I live on this earth, I will still worship Thee as long as I live and in the ages to come for what Thou hast done already. God’s already put me so far in debt that if I were to live one million millenniums I couldn’t pay Him for what He’s done for me.”

― A.W. Tozer

How true that is…  I am blessed beyond measure.  My wonderful Wife Pat, our children Chris and Caroline and their families…  Brothers and Sisters…  friends…  a wonderful church home…  a home to live in and food to eat.   And a love that abounds in our hearts…  What joy there is in Jesus!  I give thanks and praise.