The Names of God: Elohim—God, Mighty Creator

In the beginning God [elohim] created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 KJV)

From https://babethebeka.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/genesis1_11.jpg

Last week, we began to ponder the names of God and how learning His names would deepen our experience of Him and cause us to have a deepening love for God. The introduction to this series within the Believing God series can be found here: Knowing God Through His Names: Introduction

Elohim (hear elohim in Hebrew) is the first name for God in the Bible—it is found in the very first verse of Genesis chapter 1 (see above). Even here we discover the triune God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit)—elohim is a Hebrew masculine plural pronoun, el is the singular form. To see Genesis 1:1 in interlinear form (English with Hebrew below, please click here). Jesus, while on the cross used yet another form of this word: Eloi (read Mark 15:34).

Photo Credit: P. Whitlach

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3 KJV)

In John 1 we learn that Jesus was the One who spoke all things into existence—things seen as well as things unseen. Jesus has always existed and will always exist. How amazing is this?!

Photo Credit: C. Meissner

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. (Colossians 1:16 KJV)

Photo Credit: P. Whitlach 

To do this, to create, truly shows God’s power, might, and authority. His is amazingly creative! Why do we not have more moments where we sit in awe of God’s miraculous creation?

The Name that is above all others is ultimately the safest place to land—He is our provider, protector, creator, and so much more!

Can you imagine, the One who created the world and everything in it, came to earth in the most humble of ways; lived an incredibly humble existence, walking the world He created? Mindboggling! Amazing! Jesus came. He came to this world—the very people He created did not accept Him. Instead, they reviled and rejected Him. Ultimately, He lost His life to give us meaningful eternal life by rising again and returning to the Father.

Photo Credit: P. Whitlach

If we have eyes to see; we can see God’s creative power in our lives today. He sustains our life; He sends blessings of many types as we journey through our lives. God continues to create even today.

Just think the power that is God and within God is still available today! How do we know this? We know this because God never changes (read Hebrews 13:8). This being true, should be immensely comforting as we live in a world that grows increasingly dark each day.

Stand strong! Stay true! The smallest light shines brightly even in deep darkness. Remember how much light a single candle gives a dark room.

The beauty in our world should cause us to pause and thank and praise God for the beauty in the natural world. If we have eyes to see, there is beauty to be found in haze that covers trees resplendent in green foliage. Likewise, we can see beauty on a bitterly cold, snowy winter day.

Photo Credit: C. Meissner

I am so glad I serve such an amazing, creative, powerful God! What about you?

Spend some time this week pondering Elohim—Creator God. What does it mean that God is Creator?

What part of creation do you most enjoy?

Please join with me in prayer:

God of Creation, when we pause to consider this world You fashioned, we find ourselves overwhelmed with Your almighty power. We simply stand in awe of You. It is hard for our finite minds to grasp how you created this world and everything in it out of nothing; clearly that is what makes You God of all creation. Help us to simply enjoy the beauty You have given us for our enjoyment; may we care for it in a way that pleases You. Turn our hearts and minds to ponder and worship You as Creator. Thank You Elohim for all that You are and for all that You do! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

While I was pondering this post, the following hymn started flowing through my mind: All Things Bright and Beautiful 

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

The following resources were utilized in preparing this post:

Praying the Names of God: A Daily Guide by Ann Spangler, Zondervan, 2004

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Names_of_G-d/Elohim/elohim.html

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Names_of_G-d/El/el.html

The Power of Story

“At that time Jesus full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, ‘I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.  Yes Father, for this was your good pleasure.’”  (Luke 10:21 KJV)

What do you most strongly remember from your childhood?   What stories did you find particularly fascinating and wanted read over and over?  For me, I’ve been told that I loved Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.  We learn so much from stories—those written, as well as the stories of lives of others told to us orally.  Even our personal stories can instruct.  Learning to listen—with rapt attention (like small children listening to a book being read)—to the stories of faithful believers can aid our own walk.  It’s humbling to realize that our own testimony can inspire others.

Growing up in the church I listened to many Bible stories.  Through those stories I learned about Bible heroes and the faith that I’d return to in a more complete and powerful way as an adult. 

For those who grew up in church, what stories were the most fascinating to you?  My favorite was when Jesus healed the man who was paralyzed (Matt. 9:2-7 see here; Mark 2:3-12 [a different type of healing] see here; Luke 5:18-25 see here).  Today, as an adult, I still find the stories where Jesus (and His apostles) healed others to be fascinating.  There is such amazing power in God’s Word!      

Romans 10:17 (KJV) states: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Listening seems to imply that a response of some sort is needed.  The response is up to each individual listening.  In this case, it’s responding to Jesus and His desire to be our Savior and Lord.  The question is:  Will we say “yes” to Jesus and eternal life that is truly worth living or will we say “no” and spend an eternity separated from the One who loves more deeply than we can begin to understand?  This is one question that can only be answered by each person for himself/herself.  What will your answer be? 

Heart-warming is a good way to describe what many of us feel when children or adults make the decision to invite Jesus into their heart—becoming born again.  Their lives are completely different.  Salvation changes us from inside out.    

The effect of stories on our lives is powerful—it is through stories that learning takes place on a more personal level.  Stories bring life and color to issues that could otherwise remain dull and lifeless.  Who can you share the stories of Jesus with in the coming days?   

Dear Father, I lift up to You each person who reads this blog—reveal Yourself to them in the way they need to experience You.  Draw them to You.  Lift any condemnation they may be under that is hindering them from hearing You, may they surrender their life to You.  Thank you for the openness and receptiveness of little children—may we be more childlike in how we respond to You and Your Word.  .  Help us to teach them the Truth about Jesus and His love.  Instill in us a childlike faith and openness to You.  Open our hearts to truly hear what children say to us about You.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

From my heart to yours,

Kim

God’s Faithfulness

Webster’s Dictionary 1828 defines faithfulness (dictionary link) as: “1. Fidelity; loyalty; firm adherence to allegiance and duty; as the faithfulness of a subject.

2. Truth; veracity; as the faithfulness of God.

3. Strict adherence to injunctions, and to the duties of a station; as the faithfulness of servants or ministers.

4. Strict performance of promises, vows or covenants; constancy in affection; as the faithfulness of a husband or wife.”

God’s faithfulness is all around us, if we would just open our eyes and soften our hearts.  If we can somehow see the unseen through understanding how God deals with His people, we can praise God even in the midst of pain, as well as the good times.  It is a part of God’s character and nature to be faithful—He cannot be anything but faithful.  We can fully trust God in all things.   

If we can focus our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (see Hebrews 12:2 see here), we’ll find ourselves able to honestly proclaim the words to the hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness.

God is faithful to provide for His children; think about how God has provided for you when you thought all was hopeless.  Perhaps, the most difficult time to grow in our faith is during the times of calmness and good—when things are going well. Being faithful in all circumstances is important.

In fact, Paul, the apostle, talks about this in several of his letters. Paul was able to be joyful and content in all things, no matter what his circumstances.  In fact, he wrote his letter to the Philippians (“the book of joy”) from a jail cell—where he was awaiting to learn his fate.  Paul was martyred for his testimony in Jesus.  

How do we react when we face trials?  What about good times?  When is it easiest for you to grow in faith and relationship with God?

     

“It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning:  great is thy faithfulness.”  (Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV)

 Please join with me in prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to see your faithfulness to us in our daily lives, so that we can truly sing the words to Great is Thy Faithfulness.  Thank you for your great faithfulness to us.  We acknowledge our powerlessness without you to live our lives.  Teach us to grow in our relationship with you.  In Jesus’ precious name, we pray, Amen.

From my heart to yours,

Kim

New Life in Jesus Christ

 “Jesus saith unto him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’”  (John 14:6 KJV)

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23 KJV)

At the very beginning of this blog, I want to share what will make a difference in the lives of those who are reading: the importance of having a saving relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?  If not, why not?  What are you waiting for?  God loves you deeply and desires nothing more than a relationship with you.  God is waiting with open arms for you to come to Him.  You can take comfort, because everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23 http://www.biblestudytools.com/kjv/romans/3-23.html).  Sinners (and that’s all of us!) are worthy of death.  The only way we can be saved is by calling upon the name of the Lord (Romans 10:13 http://www.biblestudytools.com/kjv/romans/10-13.html) there aren’t multiple ways to God, as the world would have us believe. 

Do you honestly know where you’ll be spending eternity?  Each human will spend eternity either in Heaven with the Lord or in the horrors of hell—utterly and eternally separated from a holy God.  The choice is an individual one—no one can make it for you.  There is only one way to God and that is through His Son, Jesus Christ, without Jesus we lose our way—Jesus is our compass—guiding us through life until we leave this life for eternal life with our Father.  This is only possible if we have Jesus in our hearts; if we don’t have Jesus truly in our hearts we deceive ourselves and others, and we will pay for it for eternity.  If you haven’t acknowledged your need for a Savior and honestly confessed your sins and invited Jesus into your heart and life as your Lord and Savior what is holding you back?  I pray that you will find that Jesus in your heart and life satisfies your deepest longings. 

What are you waiting for?  Jesus accepts us just as we are.  We don’t have to do anything other than come to Jesus, just as we are—He will do what we can’t do—change us, set us free from all that has enslaved us.  In salvation, the Holy Spirit will come and live within us, empowering us to live a Christian life.  Allowing Jesus to come into our hearts and lives changes us.  As the old hymn, Just as I Am (public domain) states, “Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come!  I come!”  This is so true.  We don’t have to clean ourselves up before coming to the Lord.  He accepts us when we sincerely come to Him; however, He doesn’t leave us as He finds us. 

When we invite Jesus into our hearts and lives, He begins to change us from the inside out.  It’s a transformation, we are a new creation!  ("Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold , all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).  Without the Lord, there’s a deep emptiness inside, a longing that we try to fill with things, with people, with work, with activities, and sometimes even drugs.  Yet we find the emptiness remains—an emptiness that can only be filled by our Creator, the One who loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die on a Cross, so we could have a relationship with Him (John 3:16).   Why not start the greatest relationship of all—a relationship with Jesus today?

God loves you all so much and desires to have a relationship with you.  He’s a gentleman, so He’ll not force Himself upon you.  He’s already said yes to you—the ball is now in your court.  What will you decide?  Will you say “yes” or “no”?  Please don’t wait too long; one day it will be too late—none of us know when our life will end. 

Here’s a prayer that is an example for asking Jesus into your heart and life. 

Dear Jesus, we come to You humbly admitting that we are sinners.  You died for us, to pay the penalty for our sins.  We need Your forgiveness and we turn from our sins.  We open our hearts to You and invite you to come in to our lives as our Lord and Savior.  Thank you, Jesus, for humbling Yourself to come to earth and live among us and then die upon a cross for us.  In Your name we pray.  Amen. 

From my heart to yours,

Kim