Tag: God

IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD

Posted on by Northstar Devotional

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

John says, in the beginning, was the word. People know that Jesus lived on earth for 33 years in Israel. But John is reminding us that even before the beginning of what we know is time, Jesus, the Word was eternally God. This should make you stop for a moment because when we start to say that Jesus is the Son, some people think He was a created being, but John is saying no. We believe the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God. Think about that for a second. Jesus is fully God and fully man, not half and half.  Jesus was on a rescue mission to save us.

One of the most beautifully written passages about Jesus is found in Colossians 1:15-19: “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ.” 

Have you ever thought that God is this big, impersonal force out there, and we can’t know Him? As believers in Jesus, we know that’s not true. We know God is a knowable God, a personable God, and He chose to be known by the Word coming to the earth, taking on the form of a servant, and being hung on a cross. That is our God. If we want to know what God is like, we just look at Jesus in the Scriptures.

Jesus is the eternal Word of God who was with God and was God. The Word reveals God and is the power of God in His creative and redemptive mission and we are invited to put our faith in Him.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does John 1:1 help us understand the divine nature of Jesus and the trinity? 
  2. What are some reasons that it is important for our faith that Jesus was not just some created being like a human teacher or an angel? 

THE INVISIBLE GOD: WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT GOD IS INVISIBLE?

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“We were created for the purpose of giving God’s invisible character a glimpse of visibility.” – Beth Moore

We believe that not only does God exists, but He is all around us. But as John tells us “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:12 ESV) The immediate problem with this is how do you love what is not seen. How do you manage to love something or someone who is invisible, who is not evident to the senses?

To answer that question, it is necessary to ask a question first: how do we know anything? Much of what we know is taken on faith. How do I know the woman wearing the brown UPS uniform is not wearing a costume and is a burglar scouting my house? In the same vein, it takes faith to worship the God who I have never seen. Therein lies the challenge. How many times, when I was in distress, did I ask for a tangible visitation and didn’t get it? Well, this is the reason. God is invisible. He is not playing a game of cosmic hide-and-seek with me. He is present, just invisible.

The fact that we can see God is well attested to by the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:20, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen.…” (KJV)  How do we see God? We see Him by looking around at His creation. Psalms 19:1-6 says, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.”

Jesus came into the world to show us what God the Father is like. He is the visible representation of the Father, who is invisible. Jesus embodies the characteristics of God. Through the miracle of the incarnation, He took upon Himself the nature and form of man. In doing this, He gave expression to the qualities of God and communicated these qualities to man. Jesus said, “…Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father…” (John 14:9). Hebrews 1:3 adds, “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God…”

All of us should make God “visible” to the world in which we live, “ For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13). The bible is the story of God on a mission to bring heaven and earth together. It’s also the story of how God invites Christians to join Him in His mission. As we work to make the invisible God visible, we are not doing anything except revealing who He already is.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What makes the Bible so unique in your mind?
  2. What can we do this week to spend more time in the Bible?   

THE MOST IMPACTFUL BOOK IN HISTORY

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For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” – Hebrews 4:12

The Bible is the single most important book ever written. It is an eyewitness account of historical events that have shaped the world in which we live. This book is a priceless, fascinating, and incomparable treasure. People have died torturous deaths simply to gain access to the Bible in countries where this book is discouraged or even banned outright. It raises the dignity and rights of every human being ever born. It is truly an amazing and remarkable piece of writing that will astonish and surprise you. Consider the following:

First, the Bible was written over a period of 1,600 years by 40 different authors and in multiple languages yet it speaks with a common voice.  On days when movie producers have a hard time recreating a scene exactly from day to day, the Bible has an internal consistency and theme that is nothing short of amazing.

Second, think about its circulation. The Bible is the most published book in history. It has been at the top of the best-seller list yearly for 200-300 years. It is impossible to know exactly how many copies have been printed in the roughly 1500 years since the Bible contents were standardized, but research suggests that the total number is somewhere between 5 and 7 billion. And that does not include all the digital versions that people have on their various devices. The Bible in its entirety has been translated into over 700 different languages and more happen each year. No book comes close to this.

Third, we can trust in its reliability. The Bible is the Word of God and has been miraculously preserved through the years of copying and translation so that we can be sure of its trustworthiness and reliability. The same goes for the Bible’s durability. Some have tried to eliminate it. All who have tried have failed.  The Bible has survived bans and burnings, ridicule and criticism by opponents.

Fourth is the Bible’s effect: people who start reading the Bible never finish reading it. They want to keep reading it over and you keep seeing new things. People have multiple versions. They study it and carry it around. What people learn transforms their lives and values like no other book ever has. The Bible is truly a gift.

If you are a Christian, the Bible is an indispensable book. Our walk alongside God takes a thousand twists, turns, and obstacles. Fortunately, the Bible is the map for that journey. Take time every day to read this remarkable book. Read it with an open mind and open heart. It contains pure truth about God, about life, grace, love, and an eternity with God. You’ll be amazed at what you discover about God, and about yourself.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What makes the Bible so unique in your mind?
  2. What can we do this week to spend more time in the Bible?

GODHEAD THREE: THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

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“After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” —  Matthew 3:16-17.

Admittedly, the Trinity is probably one of the most mysterious concepts in our faith. But God is at one time, three persons; the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Each person is fully God, with all the attributes of God, but each person is distinct from the others. The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father. However, they are all God. We need to remember that this isn’t just God showing up in a different form at different times. Each person of the Trinity has always existed and has always been fully God. We will never understand the Trinity by human investigation, logic, philosophy, or science. The only way you can begin to grasp the Trinity is through what God says in His word.

Matthew 3:16-17 tells us that Jesus (the Son) getting baptized, the Father speaking, and the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove. If each Person of the Trinity is distinct and yet fully God, then should we conclude that there is more than one God? Obviously, we cannot, for Scripture is clear that there is only one God: Isaiah 45:21 is just one example: “Consult together, argue your case. Get together and decide what to say. Who made these things known so long ago? What idol ever told you they would happen? Was it not I, the LORD? For there is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior. There is none but me.” 1 Kings 8:60 adds, “Then people all over the earth will know that the Lord alone is God and there is no other.” God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are one.

What difference does it make whether God is one person or three? Is this really going to impact our lives at all? Actually, the three Persons of God matter a great deal: The three Persons show God is totally committed to us: All three Persons of God are fully involved in and committed to making us His children.

Paul explains it like this: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. . . he chose us in him (Jesus) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will . . .  when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” — Ephesians 1:3-14 (ESV)

Scripture shows how each member of the Trinity fulfills His specific role and how those three roles interrelate. In simple terms, The Father creates a plan, Jesus Christ implements the plan, and the Holy Spirit administers the plan.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How are the persons of the Trinity distinct?
  2. How much do we need to know about the Trinity? 

The Lessons We Can Learn From Daniel And The Lion’s Den

Posted on by Northstar Devotional

“Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.” – Daniel 6:4-5.

The story of Daniel in the lion’s den is one of the most familiar lessons in the entire Bible. It is a story that has direct application to our lives today.

Daniel wakes up and a new day is streaming in through the open windows. Daniel kneels humbly at the window and sends an earnest prayer up to his only Lord. He does this three times a day, and today is no exception. But now he is bending his knees at an entirely different risk than before. It is actually life-threatening to kneel before anyone other than the king today. Like everyone else in the land of Babylon, Daniel had read the latest decree sent out from the king. Those who worship anyone other than the king during the next thirty days shall be cast into the lions’ den. It is truly an awful fate.

Daniel could have avoided this entire situation. Just a little adjustment in his commitment, and you could have avoided this entire thing. He could have set aside his daily routine for a month or so. Or he could have gone someplace where nobody would see him praying. But he will not bend or postpone his commitment to God. Very simply, Daniel’s commitment to God was not altered by his circumstances… whether good or bad. Daniel’s unwavering stance for God caused the trip to the lion’s den. God shut the mouths of the lions and Daniel was not harmed.

One of the chief lessons we learn from this story is gleaned from the confession of King Darius himself: “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end.” (Daniel 6:26). Hebrews 11:33 says, “By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions,”   

There’s no doubt: prayer does not come naturally. It is something that we all need to strive for. If we are not careful, we might slowly come to a point where our conscience does not bother us anymore when we fail to pray

The life of Daniel offers us the clearest example of how to cultivate a life of praying. Daniel went through just about every situation we could imagine. He was captured in war and was subjected to great danger as he was abducted and sent off as a prize to the winning side. In these trials and through the next decades there was one common denominator in his life: the habit of prayer.   

Discussion Questions:

  1. Most believers believe it is difficult to pray if you don’t spend time in the word. Agree or disagree and why?
  2. What keeps you from the habit (routine) of praying? What can you do this week to overcome those obstacles?

It’s All About A Relationship

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“Christianity is not a religion or a philosophy, but a relationship and a lifestyle. The core of that lifestyle is thinking of others, as Jesus did, instead of ourselves.” —  Rick Warren.

You could make a strong case that human beings are defined by their relationships more than anything else. Relationships tell us who we are, whose we are and what is expected of us. Our relationships define where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going. The company we keep is one of the most telling characteristics of who we truly are. And that includes our relationship with God.

Too often we try to define our relationship with God when in reality our relationship needs to be defined on His terms. Right now, God is actively seeking a relationship with you that is life-changing. He wants you to identify with His will and work in this world, but He wants you first to identify with Him.  He invites you to be forgiven and enjoy His life in you.  He wants to be your Father and desires that you be His child.

Relationships with people are dynamic, in that they often change with time and can grow deeper. So it is also with your relationship with Jesus. Just as God’s mercies are new every morning, your relationship with Jesus can also be new and alive every morning. The relationship becomes deeper as your love for Him increases, and as your own will decreases.

Today people want a relationship without putting in the work to make the relationship strong. In the same way, we want the benefits of a relationship with God without spending time with God. We want access to the power of God without the work and time needed to build an intimate relationship with God. A real relationship with God means getting to know God and we don’t get to know God in a day or over a weekend.

 A true relationship with God will not happen automatically. We must want it, really want it. If you want an intimate relationship with God, He must become a priority. It must be something that you are motivated to do. It will not come from a sense of obligation.

There will be times in our lives when we have a real hunger and desperation for God. There will be times when we just can’t get enough of Him. There will be times when we feel His presence in tangible ways. At times like these God will feel close and there will be the intimacy we seek. But real intimacy means we do those things even during times of trial or when bad things just keep popping up and it is a labor of love to pray, to spend time in the word, and to serve. The deepest growth in intimacy in our relationship with God comes when we worship and serve God regardless of negative circumstances.

Augustine said, “To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances; To seek Him, the greatest adventure; To find Him, the greatest human achievement.”

Discussion Questions:

  1. What keeps you from having a more intimate relationship with God?
  2. What role does fear play in developing an intimate relationship with God?
  3. How can we improve our relationship with God?

Knowing God In A New Way In 2023

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“Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.” —  2 Peter 3:18

How does getting to know God better in 2023 sound? Imagine being closer to the Creator of the universe—the one that created you.

Knowing God doesn’t mean knowing about God. It doesn’t mean accumulating a fact book in your head. To know God means I don’t just know about Him, I know Him. I’ve seen Him work in my life. I’ve built my life upon His promises, and I’ve seen time after time He is faithful to them. I’ve noticed that He never fails.

Too often we view truly knowing God as a chasm seldom crossed. We assume that “encountering or really knowing God” is reserved for those with seminary degrees. Knowing God is more than an acquisition of knowledge or information. Nor is it just a fact-finding mission.  Scripture teaches that everyone can have a true and personal knowledge of God. Knowing God is not an optional part of the Christian life; it is the Christian life.

In 2023, we want to go a little deeper into knowing God. When you want to deepen your relationship with God, you need to move beyond head knowledge to know Him well enough to seek personal encounters with Him. Daniel 11:32 (TLB) tells us, “…But the people who know their God shall be strong and do great things.”  

 John Piper said this about the subject: “But to enjoy Him, we must know him. Reasoning, thinking, knowing God is the necessary means, and delighting in, being satisfied in, enjoying and treasuring God is the ultimate end of the human soul.” J.I. Packer wrote a book entitled Knowing God. He said, “It [knowing God] is the most practical project anyone can engage in. Knowing about God is crucially important for living our lives.”

The ultimate goal of every Christian is to get to know God. Many verses in the Bible make this very clear. “And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.” (John 17:3) “And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.” (1 John 5:20.)

Knowing God means encountering Him. Knowing God means communing with Him. It is getting to know Him as a loving Father. Knowing God means there is a relationship. Knowing God is the byproduct of regular, consistent time spent with Him, in His word, and in prayer. Knowing Him is when we are no longer content with learning about Him but want to really know Him.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does it mean to you to “know” God?   
  2. What can we do in the short-term to better know God? 

Not Without You

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“The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.” Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.  How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.” – Exodus 33:14-16,

The background here in Exodus 33 is so important. Moses, the chosen leader of the Israelite people, was on Mount Sinai receiving the law when God told him it was time to go back down the mountain. Because the Israelites grew tired of waiting on him to return, they quickly turned away from God and what He had commanded them. Upon descending the mountain, Moses discovered that they had made themselves a golden calf to worship.

Although God was displeased, He was still giving them the Promised Land, but He would not be going with them. That is when Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.” Basically, we won’t go without you. God answers his prayer and says, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.”  (Exodus 33:17) Moses is a terrific role model here.  He recognizes the importance of having God with him and acts accordingly.  He knows the consequences and he is adamant about not going anywhere without God.

Consider this hypothetical question: If God said “I am prepared to give you everything your heart desires, make all your dreams come true. I will give you a great job, a successful spouse, and smart respectful children. You will have no more health problems or stress. But there is this one caveat: you get those things but you don’t get me” Would you take that deal? Would we be bothered if went into the personal promised land without God? Or is God’s presence in our life so important that like Moses we would say, “If you’re not with me, I’m not moving? Not without you.”

God didn’t take the Israelites out of Egypt so they could get to the promised land  He took them out of Egypt so they could know Him.  God didn’t rescue you and lead you to Christ so you could be more blessed, and happy, and see more positive results.  He rescued you so you could know Him.

So how do we encounter the presence of God? How do we experience His nearness? The more you draw near to God, the more you will experience Him in your life. The more you pray, the more you realize He hears you. The more you read your Bible, the more you realize how true and unchanging He is. The more you choose to trust Him, the more you will miraculously witness His faithfulness.

In 2023, don’t move without Him.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How do we ensure we don’t go without God in our daily lives this week?  
  2. What can we do this week to better feel God’s presence? 

Depending On The Dependable God

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“But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned the flames will not set you ablaze.” – Isaiah 43:1-2.

Isaiah 43: 1-2 is a scripture that seems relevant for the first few weeks of 2023. In this passage, we read about a promise from God. This promise is there for each one of us as individuals.

God knows me so intimately because He created me.  He knew me before anyone else did and literally no one knows me better than anyone will know me. Then, He reminds me that He “redeemed” me. The one who knows me most intimately, knows my faults, my downfalls, my secret thoughts and fears, and all of the other stuff in my life, and still found me worth redeeming. He calls me by name and calls me His own.

During 2023 we most likely will face difficult situations in life. Regardless of what those circumstances are, God is dependable. You can trust Him with your life and know that it is absolutely safe and secure. You can follow God with your two eyes closed and know that you will not miss the way or fall into a ditch. Think of it in this way: Most of us have held a baby in our arms at one time or another. And we just have likely passed that baby to a child, a brother or sister, to hold for a photo. The baby doesn’t panic but continues to rest or sleep in the brother’s or sister’s arms. The baby trusts whoever was carrying him or she was dependable and up to the task.

It is such childlike faith that is required in depending on God. You should rest in His arms, knowing that He is dependable and up to the task of carrying you. When we depend on God, we get what God can do. Depending on God means we rely on Him and depend on His reliability. Depending on God means that God is bigger, greater, and better than me and you can depend on God to meet all your needs; He has all the resources of the earth. Psalm 24:1 tells us, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” When you know that God owns all things, you will not struggle to depend on Him for whatever you need. He said, For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it.” (Psalm 50:10-12) You can depend on God because He holds and rules the entire world.

God is dependable because of His track record of faithfulness and success; God has no record of failure. There is nothing He has ever said that failed; that have either happened or are about to happen. He has all it takes to keep His promises, so you can trust and depend on Him for your today and tomorrow.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How have seen God’s dependability in 2022?
  2. How should God’s dependability impact our lives in 2023? 

If

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“Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours.” – 1 Kings 3:9

What if you had one wish? What if God appeared to you and gave you one wish, what would you ask for? Most of us would have to pause and sort out the luxuries versus the necessities of life. We would also probably try to figure out a way to get several additional things by asking for one thing. Money, power, prestige, safety, security, a promotion, a vacation villa in Tuscany, a huge boat, etc. There are quite a few things that would come to us if we were asked. While most of us won’t get the opportunity, Solomon did.

Solomon was a young man, about twenty years of age when his father David died and he became king. 1 Kings 3: 5 tells us, “…That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” Think about that for a moment.  Solomon is basically given an open checkbook. He is a young man presented with a vast array of possibilities by the One who can give him anything he desires. Obviously, he could have gone in many different directions, yet he simply asked God for the most important thing he could think of—and God answered his prayer. “I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!” (1 Kings 3:12) Solomon acknowledges his deficiency to reign over God’s own people as king. He realizes that he needs to depend upon the Lord for success.

So what can we do with Solomon’s wish? We’re not likely to get a God-sent wish-for-anything package anytime soon. But I think we can put ourselves in Solomon’s shoes and ask ourselves, “What would I wish for?” Given the opportunity, a lot of things would present themselves to our minds. Jesus is giving us some insight when He says, says, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:21) and “…What you say flows from what is in your heart.” (Luke 6:45) Our answer to the question reveals the desires of our heart. So as we begin 2023, what would you ask for?

Maybe you would ask for something that will increase your enjoyment of God. Or maybe you would like to have the wisdom to improve your family life, or the faith to believe that God can and will do the impossible in your life. How about making significant progress in a spiritual discipline you have been working on? Or do you wish to find new and helpful ways you could strengthen your church? Or maybe you want to be the instrument of the salvation of loved ones. Or just maybe you think more strategically and you would ask that what you do in 2023 will matter in ten years, in eternity.

Pray for wisdom on what He would have you do over this next year and talk to Him about your desires and dreams for the year. Ask the Lord to remind you of your purpose in Him as you walk forward.

Discussion questions:

  1. What would you be thinking if God granted you one wish?
  2. What is one thing, one change that could make a significant difference in your life spiritually in 2023?