Attributes of God: Zealous

"Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end.

He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it with with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the LORD Almighthy will accomplish this."

(Isaiah 9:7)

Zealous: Marked with fervent partisanship for a person, a cause, or an ideal: filled with or characterized by zeal. 

Zeal: Eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something: fervor. 

What are you zealous over?  Our Lord Almighty is zealous over us, my friends.  His purpose is marked with fervent pursuit after His children.  He is eager after our hearts.  Isn't that captivating?

I desire more zeal, don't you?  And I must be clear here that I am desiring to become more zealous after good things, as we too can become zealous over things that will not build us up or esteem us in the Name of Jesus.  We all know people who have become zealous over things that will only lead to emptiness.  Perhaps we have even been those very people.  I deeply long to be more zealous after the things of God.  I want to be characterized by fervor -- to be overtaken with an eager and ardent pursuit of Him and Him alone.  I am praising You today, Lord, for being zealous after Your church, after Your children.  Thank You for pursuing us, for captivating our hearts.  Thank You that Your zeal is uncategorically focused.  Make me zealous after You, Lord Jesus.      

What about you?

Are you praising Him today for being the zest of life?  Are you taking hold and ushering in the idea of zeal in your own life? 

  "Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord."

(Proverbs 23:17)

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."

(Romans 12:11)

"It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good ... "

(Galatians 4:18) 

Attributes of God: Yahweh

And God, furthermore, said to Moses,

"Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel,

'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham,

the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.'

This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations."

(Exodus 3:15)

The title "LORD" is known as the personal name of God.  When seen in Scripture in all capital letters, it is again used in reference to the personal name of God.  The Hebrew word for this name is Yahweh, which means "I AM who I AM." This name specifically tells us that God is always with His people.  If you recall back a few weeks ago, we touched on this particular idea on the letter "I" when we looked at Moses' encounter with God Almighty in Exodus chapter 3.  

"God says to Moses, 'I AM who I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites:

 'I AM has sent me to you.'" (Exodus 3:14)

Thank You for being our Yahweh.  You are LORD.  You are the Great I AM.  You are the God who is, and was and is to come.  We praise You LORD, for Your constance.  Thank You for being all we need.  I am so humbled that we are able to call You by Your personal name ... Yahweh.

What about you?

Are you too praising Him for being Yahweh ... for being LORD of your life and of eternity? 

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want."

(Psalm 23:1)

"Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength;

They will mount up with wings like eagles, 

They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become weary."

(Isaiah 40:31)

Attributes of God: Exceedingly Abundantly More

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly
above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations,
forever and ever, Amen."
(Ephesians 3:20-21, NKJV)

This has to be one of my most favorite verses in the New Testament.  I love the mere power in it - the power of our God ... the power of the Cross ... the power in us as believers in Jesus.  Oh, if I could grab a hold of that power in my life everyday, all day, how would life be different?  To have the confident assurance that my God is able ... All the time, in every circumstance.  

I am praising God today for being Exceedingly Abundantly More than I can ask or think.  And not only is He Exceedingly Abundantly More than all I can ask or think, He desires far greater for my life than I can imagine in my human mind.  His plans are totally inconceivable.  I want to know the power of this Exceedingly Abundantly More God in my life every single day.  I desire to know seek Your purposes, Lord.  I know that if I operate in my own strength, this life of mine will be lived in vain.  You, Jesus, have proved to be far more than what I could have ever asked for or even thought of.  You have become my substance, my satisfaction, the One I desire to seek ... over and over again.  I am grateful for Your promises today.  I am in awe that I serve a God who is Exceedingly Abundantly MORE ... than anything else in this world.

What about you?

Are you praising Him for His Excellence?  Are you thanking Him for being the Exalted One?  Are you Excited about His amazing ability to work in and through you?  

"God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine

or guess or request in your wildest dreams!

He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us,

His Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!

Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!

Glory down all the generations!

Glory through all millennia!"

(Ephesians 3:20-21, The Message)

Attributes of God: Wisdom

" 'Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David.

But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.

Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people,

too numerous to count or number. 

So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people

and to distinguish between right and wrong.

For who is able to govern this great people of yours?'

The LORD was pleased that Solomon asked for this.

'I will do what you have asked.  I will give you a wise and discerning heart,

so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.' "

(1 Kings 3:7-10, 12)

How often do we truly long after a heart of wisdom?  A wise and discerning heart was the one thing young Solomon asked the Lord for.  He could have asked Him for all the riches in the world, for power, for fame, for popularity ... And instead Solomon knew that God's wisdom was the one supreme thing that would guarantee a successful reign as king.  How would our lives be different if our hearts cry truly was to know the wisdom of God on a daily basis?  I desperately desire to follow Solomon's example in this area ...

I am praising God today for being our Wisdom.  Thank You, Lord, for giving us Your Word that instructs us.  Thank You also for giving us Your Spirit which leads us and speaks Your Truth into our lives.  There is none more wise than you.  Your wisdom surpasses all the wisdom this world has to offer, and it can be ours through Jesus. 

What about you?

Are you praising God today for His Word?  Are you thanking Him for the Work He has started in your life, and will carry on until the day of completion?  Are you standing in awe of Him, for He is Worthy? Is He Wonderful to you? 

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,

who gives generously to all without finding fault,

and it will be given to you."

(James 1:5)

"For the LORD gives wisdom;

From His mouth come knowledge and understanding."

(Proverbs 2:6)

"All this also comes from the LORD Almighty,

whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent."

(Isaiah 28:29)

Attributes of God: My Victory

"O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;

but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ."

(1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

The Lord has won great victories for me.  For us.  I am praising God today for being victorious over my sin, my shame, and my shortcomings.  I am praising God today for having victory over my failures, my flaws, and all of my frailties.  I am praising God today for having victory over my insecurity, my insufficiency, and all of my inferiority.  Nothing in this life will ever bring me the victory that my Jesus can bring.  Everything - absolutely everything else - falls short.  With Him we will win the victory. Thank You, Lord, for the victory I have in You.  Thank You for having victory over the grave, over sin, and over our enemy.  Death is swallowed up in Your Victory!    

What about you?

Are you praising Him today for His Voice?  Are you thanking Him for being Victorious?  For being your Vindicator?  

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world;

and this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith."

(1 John 5:4)

Victory for the Lamb:

"These will wage war against the Lamb, 

and the Lamb will overcome them,

because He is Lord of lords and King of kings,

and those who are with Him are called the chosen and faithful."

(Revelation 17:14)

"With God we will gain the victory,

and He will trample down our enemies."

(Psalm 60:12)