Pull up a chair for a moment. Let’s talk about something that quietly shapes the way we live: how we see God.
In our world today, God is often spoken of in soft, comfortable terms. For some, He’s seen as a distant force. He is like an energy that exists “out there.” This energy doesn’t touch our daily lives. For others, He’s imagined as endlessly permissive – a God who never corrects, only affirms. And for many, He’s optional: one spiritual path among many, something we can adjust to fit our preferences.
This view of God can feel safe, even convenient. But it often ends up shaping Him into our own image. We make Him smaller, gentler, and more manageable than He truly is.
The God We Meet in Scripture:
When we turn to the Bible, though, we meet God. This God is greater than we can imagine. He is also nearer than we can fathom.
- Holy and Just: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty” – Isaiah 6:3
He is holy and just. He is pure and set apart. He is not simply a reflection of ourselves. - Loving and Merciful: “God shows his love for us. Christ died for us while we were still sinners.” – Romans 5:8
His love doesn’t ignore our sin; it redeems it. - Personal and Near: “The Lord is close to everyone who calls on him.” – Psalm 145:18
He is not a distant deity. He listens. He cares. He draws close. - Unchanging: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” -Hebrews 13:8
Our culture shifts. Yet, He remains steady and true. - Lord and King: The Bible shows us a God before whom we bow, not a God who bends to us.
This can feel like a tension – God is both infinitely loving and perfectly holy. He welcomes us with open arms, yet He calls us to be transformed.
How we see God shapes how we live. If we see Him as only a gentle encourager, we might miss His call to holiness. If we see Him as only a strict judge, we might miss His tender love. But when we hold both together, His holiness and His mercy, we truly understand Him. When we hold His majesty and His nearness together, we truly understand Him. This is how we find the fullness of who He really is.
And in that fullness, our hearts are changed.
The Prayer Porch 