“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us,” wrote AW Tozer. What do you think about God today? Who is He? What is He like? What does He do? Is He “the big man upstairs” or the genie in the bottle who gives you whatever you want? Is He the cosmic policeman who says, “Don’t do that!” and takes away all your fun? Maybe He’s only a myth or legend or old wives’ tale told to scare little children. What you think about God is the most important thing about you.
Paul had a definite view of who God is, what He’s like, and what He does. He concludes a long explanation in Romans 4:24-25, “He [God] who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” Jesus died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures and He was buried and raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). God raised him up and defeated death; it was not possible for Jesus to be held by it. God showed mercy and grace and gave Jesus to bear our griefs and carry our sorrows. He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities, and the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:3-4). He took the punishment for sin that I (and you) deserved – this is the marvelous grace of our loving Lord. The person who believes in Jesus’ death and resurrection for his sin is forgiven by God and has right and legal standing before Him. Christ atones (or pays) for your sin on the cross. Is this what you think about God today?
So what? You think this about God, but what difference does that make this week? Paul explains, “Abraham believed in the promises of God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. And he did not weaken in faith; no unbelief made him fall or stumble concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised (Romans 4:19-21).” Abraham saw that God was most faithful and He would never fail, and that strengthened his faith. He gave glory to God all the more. He stepped out in faith and trusted God all the more. He resisted the temptations of doubt and unbelief and glorified God in his actions. What you think about God will result in what you do about God. How can you grow strong in faith and belief? How can you glorify God as you trust in His promises?
CS Lewis said concerning God, “If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” Grow strong in faith and give glory to God. Walk in faith in His promises. Rest in His work on the cross for your sake. Think about God rightly today.