February 2009

 Definitions:

Attributes: 1. To think of as belonging to, produced by, resulting from or Originating in.

2. To ascribe as a quality or characteristic peculiar to one person

Ascribe: To assign or regard as belonging or coming from someone.

Quality: 1. Any of the features that make something what it is.

Basic nature

Fear: (Hebrew word also means 'reverance')

The fear of God can be for several reasons:

1. Superstitious - result of ignorance

2. Servile - leads to abstaining from sin for fear of punishment

3. Felial - which springs from love and prompts one to care about Offending God with a strong desire to please Him in all things.

Fear of the Lord - dreads God's displeasure, desires His favor, reveres His holiness

Submits cheerfully to His will, knowing He has our best interest in mind.

Used to worship God

Fear and Love must co-exist in us in order that either passion may be healthy and in Balance so we might please God and rightly serve Him.

Fear of Man - is the dread of opinions and the harm someone can do to us.

Protection or Preparation for our Children

There is a story written about a young soldier fighting in the trenches who kept raising his arm up to check his watch every time a flare or volley was shot his way. His buddy was lying out in the field near by. His friend, hiding in the trenches with him, and waiting for an opportunity to go rescue their fellow soldier, asked him what he was doing checking his watch every few minutes by the light of those flares. He replied that he was waiting for 9:00 to go out to rescue his fellow soldier because that's when he knew his mom would be praying for him, like she did every day for as long as he could remember. She had promised that she would continue to pray for his protection at the same time every day until he returned home. He knew he would have God's protection thru her prayers if waited for that exact time.

How do we raise children to have such confidence in God and prayer so they will be prepared for the challenges of this life?

A small child asks, "What is God like? The mother answers, "Well, God is kind of like . . . well . . ."

The best preparation and protection we can give our children is a correct view of God that will see them thru whatever this world presents. God has revealed Himself thru His Word. We need to know Him in order to prepare them.

If someone asked you "What is your husband like?" you might describe his character like . . . he is patient, kind, calm, stable but you know he isn't a list of characteristics, yet characteristics give clues to what is like. The Bible teaches us something of God's 'attributes' in order to know what we can expect from Him.

The Bible reveals the amazing effect the knowledge of God will have on our lives. In the following verses, discover what characteristics will increasingly become true of us as we come to know God.

What will become true of one who knows God?

With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. - Daniel 11:32

What is another effect the knowledge of God has on a life?

Submit to God and be at peace with him;
       in this way prosperity will come to you. - Job 22:21

You will keep in perfect peace
       him whose mind is steadfast,
       because he trusts in you. - Isaiah 26:3

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,- Ephesians 2:14

According to these verses, is it possible for you to have peace?  How?

In what circumstances do you lack peace for yourself or your children?

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
       and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. - Proverbs 9:10

This verse states another important reason we need to know God. What does this verse reveal?

Where do we find correct answers to our questions concerning what God is like?

The heavens declare the glory of God;
       the skies proclaim the work of his hands. - Psalm 19:1

You diligently study[a] the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me - John 5:39

Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? - John 14:9

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. - 2 Corinthians 4:6

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. - Colossians 1:15

The Attributes of God

What is an "attribute" of God?

In each of the following references, what do you discover about God?

a. Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands - Deuteronomy 7:9

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. - Lamentations 3:22-23

b. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
       and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
       for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
       Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
       you are exalted as head over all.

  Wealth and honor come from you;
       you are the ruler of all things.
       In your hands are strength and power
       to exalt and give strength to all. - 1 Chronicles 29:11-12

c. One thing God has spoken,
       two things have I heard:
       that you, O God, are strong, - Psalm 62:11

d. Before the mountains were born
       or you brought forth the earth and the world,
       from everlasting to everlasting you are God. - Psalm 90:2

The eternal God is your refuge,
       and underneath are the everlasting arms.
       He will drive out your enemy before you,
       saying, 'Destroy him!' - Deuteronomy 33:27

e. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
       His love endures forever. - Psalm 136:1

f. You know when I sit and when I rise;
       you perceive my thoughts from afar.

  You discern my going out and my lying down;
       you are familiar with all my ways.

  Before a word is on my tongue
       you know it completely, O LORD. - Psalm 139:2-4

The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
      Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

    Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.  - John 21:17

g. Where can I go from your Spirit?
       Where can I flee from your presence? - Psalm 139:7

h. All the peoples of the earth
       are regarded as nothing.
       He does as he pleases
       with the powers of heaven
       and the peoples of the earth.
       No one can hold back his hand
       or say to him: "What have you done? - Daniel 4:35

and said:
       "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. - 2 Chronicles 20:6

i. I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. - Malachi 3:6

 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. - Hebrews 13:8

j. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. - 1 John 4:16

After reading these verses, which describes some of the attributes of God, do you feel you could trust a God like this?  Why?

Knowing God is essential for biblical faith, and faith is necessary for life as a Christian. Faith is not a warm, positive feeling you need to "get". It is giving mental assent to something and making a decision to trust, lean, or depend upon someone or something. How you perceive the object of our faith will determine your actions. To consistently lean on God alone, we must know Him. Nothing could be more vital and practical to your Christian life and your children's preparedness and protection than the personal discoveries and application of what God has revealed concerning Himself in His Word.

We mothers (especially as Christian mothers) labor under the weighty realization that, to a certain extent, the future of our children depends on our ability to counter the culture in which they live and breathe. We can't . . . . but we can be transformed and help our children be prepared, despite the culture they live in, by learning to trust in the wonderful characteristics of the God presented in the Bible and learning to depend on the power of prayer in a close and intimate relationship with Him.