Yesterday, I began to tell you about the some of the attributes of God’s beauty. We began with the beauty of His creation, the beauty of His Righteousness, and the beauty of His justice. So let us look at a few more of those attributes.
Beauty of His Power—1 Chronicles 29: "11 Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all." God is on His throne and He reigns supreme over the just and the unjust. Matthew 5: "45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." He has power over every aspect of nature and all of mankind. Luke 8: "23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him." Stop and think about the fact that God spoke this very world into being.
Beauty of His Love–God’s love is so great that it is unfathomable. The love of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is so great Father for Son, Son for Father, Holy Spirit for the Father, the Son for the Holy Spirit and so forth. This love is beyond measure and pours forth like a spring overflowing with love. God created man so that the abundance of that overflowing love might be showered upon us. Yet, man from the very first, chose the creation rather than the creator to adore–thinking himself of greater importance than God who wanted to love him. Still, God did not just walk away; indeed, He provided the way for man’s relationship with Him to be restored. Christ paid the price for man’s rebellion upon the cross. On His way to Gethsemane, Christ prayed as recorded in John 17–"23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." What greater love can be displayed than this?
Beauty of His Grace Isaiah 43: "25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." 2 Corinthians 5: "20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." John 3: "16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." Psalm 103: "11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." His grace still amazes me. Romans 5: "7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."
Beauty of His Joy—-Did you know that God is a joyous God. He is full of Joy and desires that His children are joyous. Jude 1: "24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." Zephaniah 3: "17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." I can imagine God with all His might and power, reaching down because of His love for me–cradling me in His arms while singing to me a song of joy. I am certain those mornings when at two am I awaken with a song playing in the recesses of my mind and I feel as though I am being held gently while all alone in my bed–that is God’s presence. Then, with hope and joy in my heart, I go back to sleep.
Beauty of His Wisdom: Daniel 2: "19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee:"
1 Corinthians 1: "19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
God is wise and we can trust Him with our lives; knowing that He has the perfect plan of love, even when we don’t understand.
James 1: "5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
When we next meet, I want to demonstrate how these attributes all fit together and are revealed in the life of man. Particularly I want to tell you about Joseph’s life and how God orchestrated every minute detail so that He might bring the perfect plan into fruition. Perhaps, I am thinking so much of Joseph’s story; because I just witnessed in my life the same where God moved heaven and earth to ascertain that I might hear His voice and follow. I am still uncertain of the details of where or what we are doing; but, I trust Him and rejoice each day as I watch Him unfold my future one moment at a time. That is exciting.