March 5, 2010

Hi Everyone-

Took a picture today of the family, it’s been a while since we’ve had a group shot, the kids are growing like weeds.

Been studying this week (in between breaks with Cypress) the Nature of God, His attributes etc. Particularly this week the ‘Omniscience’ of God.  Tracing back through the bible everything that God literally says that He knows, or reveals to us specifically that He knows.  That’s not the only way to study something, but for me it was refreshing to be very practical with what He does ‘say’ He knows (comforting and convicting!).  We all believe that God knows ‘everything’, but what does it mean that he “knows’ , and what exactly ‘is’ everything?  It’s been almost 10yrs since I put much energy into studying this  topic, and I’m really enjoying it.  It’s neat how our study methods change (hopefully for the better) as we grow in our understanding of God’s word and how to ‘rightly divide’ it.  I’ve been opposed to putting to much ’emphasis’ on systematic theology in my personal devotion, it never really produced the kind of ‘fruit’ that I think pleased God in my life.  It mostly produced pride and a desire to debate and win. There are so many scriptures that I ‘do’ understand and still have yet to implement perfectly.. thinking of all the moral teachings for example in the epistles, or Jesus words to the disciples in the gospel.. I don’t think we should spend to much time as believers getting wrapped up in the mystery of God’s nature as to neglect the very practical teachings we want to pretend we don’t see sometimes.  However, studying God Himself, what makes Him tick (according to the Word), should surely stoke the flames of our heart for Him.

Consider this quote from the prince of preachers, Charles Spurgeon –

“It has beeen said by someone that, ‘the proper study of mankind is man.’ I will not oppose the idea, but I believe it is equally true that the proper study of God’s elect is God; the proper study of a Christian is the Godhead.  The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father.

“There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity.  It is the subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity.  Other subjects we can compass and grapple with; in them we feel a kind of self-content, and go our way with the thought, ‘Behold, I am wise.’  But when we come to this master of science, finding that our plumbline cannot sound its depth, and that our eagle eye cannot see its height, we turn away with the thought that vain man would be wise, but he is like a wild ass’s colt; and with solemn exclamation, ‘I am but of yesterday, and know nothing.’ No subject of contemplation will tend more to humble the mind, than the thoughts of God…”   – Charles Spurgon 1855

He was around 20yrs old when he wrote that.

I hope you can find some time to study God’s attributes, we have been doing this in church and it’s been a refreshing study, opening my eyes and heart to His greatness again.

Bruce