God's Mighty Love

I've recently been reading through much of the Old Testament, trying to break away from my knee-jerk habit of simply perusing the New Testament every time I open up my bible for "devotions." Over the past few years, I've become so accustomed to studying the books that fall under the new covenant in Christ, that I recently felt like I have been neglecting much of what scripture has to offer in the Old Testament. A few months back, I decided to break that trend.

By diving into the Old Testament throughout the last quarter of 2008, I've learned so much about the LORD that I didn't grasp in what has become our Americanized version of God. In short, I've come to a greater understanding that God is much more than a friend who is full of endless grace and love. In re-reading the Old Testament, I've come to see the Savior as so much more than a man who came to die on the cross for our sins, who rose again, and who pours grace upon us from an everlasting well of love (although these are all wonderful characteristics of the LORD).

Reading through the Old Testament this year has made me once again recognize the tremendous power of God. In the earlier books of the bible, we're told of a God who conquered nations for His people of Israel. We read stories of a God who parted the Red Sea for the fleeting Israelites, who broke down the walls of Jericho, and who spilled the stars into place with the sound of His voice. We learn of a God who was willing to punish His people when they worshiped other gods, but who took His people back when they came running back to Him.

I think it is important for us to recognize that the LORD is not an idea that we put in our pocket and use as a tool when we need something. We need to recognize that we can't thin Him out to the point where He is just a means for us to get into heaven. No matter what our perception of Him is in this western culture, He still hasn't lost the mighty power of who He was to the Israelites thousands of years ago--mighty Yahweh.

We are marvelously blessed to have been given the opportunity for eternal life from the powerful God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. To be loved by the God of Moses and Daniel. To be given and endless amount of grace by the mighty God of King David.

Let's remember the power of the Savior that lay in a manger some 2,000 years ago. He is the same today as He was yesterday.

Merry Christmas.