God is Indescribable - the King on His Throne

 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”  And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” (Revelation 21:1–7 ESV).

 

Some imagery that appears in the beginning of the Bible is contrasted or expanded upon in the final chapters of God’s grand story of salvation. The unformed abyss in Genesis 1, for example, is contrasted with the stunning architecture of the heavenly city in Revelation 21. The tree of life in the garden of Eden (cf. Genesis 2:9; 3:22-24) is multiplied in Revelation 22 and described as constantly bearing fruit and providing healing for the nations. And the image of the Spirit hovering and brooding over the waters is contrasted with the One who is now seated on the throne.

 

Creation will be complete, fully formed and mature, and we will enjoy glorious, delightful friendship with our loving Creator, who invites us to live with him in the perfect unity of love that has always characterized God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The awe-inspiring creation that we live in today will be the foundation for the new creation, and we can look forward to rejoicing along with birds and all other creatures in the new heaven and earth.

 

Not only is Christ seated in the heavenly realms, but we who love and trust him are also raised up with Christ and are seated with him even now (cf. Ephesians 2:6). This means our lives are firmly grounded and maturing in Christ as we enjoy the intimacy of living in communion with God each day while awaiting his coming again. That is Good News!

 

God is Indescribable - the Shepherb of the Shadows

 

A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23 ESV).

 

In some translations of the Bible, the “darkest valley” in Psalm 23:4 is called “the valley of the shadow of death.” Regardless of the translation, the idea of a shadow-cast valley can be frightening. This imagery can remind us of a traumatic loss or a difficult crisis, and our memories of such things can be fearful and frightening.

 

I have had many conversations with those who have experienced the grief of their spouse of many years dying. One in particular stands out to me as I think about the protection that God gives to us when we are walking through these darkest of times. This lady had been married for over 60 years when her husband died. While sitting across from me in the office she began to spread out some of the photos taken during their ling life together. Each one carried a special memory for her. The stories were vivid and interesting. After she finished she shared with me her insight on Psalm 23. She spoke about the “valley of the shadow of death,” and how dark it can be when mourning the loss of a loved one. She talked about how quiet and still the house had become; how hard it was to stay in a home filled with memories. It was heartbreaking to hear, yet she also shared a glimpse of hope she had discovered while traveling through that valley. The only way for a shadow to exist, she said, is for a source of light to be present. A shadow is not the absence of light, but rather the evidence of a light nearby. She also noted that the greater the source of light, the smaller the shadow that is cast.

 

As we move closer to the holidays, I pray that whatever valley you may be in, the light of Christ may shine bigger and brighter—and that he may be the source of your strength.

 

God is Indescribable - the Great Encourager!

 

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9–10 ESV).

 

There is no doubt in the description of God as the ultimate encourager due to His attributes like mercy, omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience. He is with people in all situations, to have the power to handle any circumstance, and to know what is needed to bring people out of discouragement. In the giving of the Holy Spirit to every believer who stays by our side, comforts us, counsels us, and helps us through stressful times we can see another aspect of this indescribable characteristic of God. The Holy Spirit is the one who gives strength and prays for us. And, then, when we see the life of Jesus we see the perfect description of an encourager through His teachings and actions. God is indeed the Great Encourager.  

 

Let’s dive a bit deeper to understand the practical application of this truth. Peter, one of Jesus’ closest followers, urgently encouraged Christians in the first century as they endured intense persecution, suffering, trials, and hardships. I imagine that Peter’s words also helped to lift himself up in some way, especially considering the changes he went through since first meeting Jesus near the Sea of Galilee. Once a professional fisherman, he soon became a church planter, a pastor, an encourager, and a defender of the faith. He went from mending nets to leading the newly formed church of Jesus Christ, full of freshly baptized believers. He could only have become this man because of Jesus’ encouragement after the resurrection (cf. John 21:15-19).

 

In our reading today Peter’s words are unapologetically bold while also being full of grace and love. Although these words were written over 2,000 years ago, they are just as true today for you and me, because we too are God’s chosen people, a group called to be ministers and shepherds in our homes and communities. We have been set apart by God’s grace, and we are heirs with Christ in his glorious kingdom, which is yet to come in its fullness. God has given us the wonderful and beautiful gift of salvation, the light of eternal life that eliminates the darkness of sin and death, for which we were once destined. We are encouraged to be an encourager!

 

God is Indescribable - a Master Gardener!

 

[Jesus said] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:1-8 ESV).

 

I do not claim to be a gardener, much less a master gardener. My father-in-law certainly was a master horticulturist, having earned his PhD in Plant Genetics and teaching and doing research in the development of many different varieties of vegetables. I do remember a brief lesson in the pruning of grape vines when he was living in Longview, Texas. He had several varieties of grapes growing in his backyard. I learned there is a very specific way to prune in order to create the right growth for maximum fruit yield.

 

I don’t know if there is any pain involved for the vine when the shoots are pruned away, though in the spiritual sense of “pruning” it certainly can be a painful process for us. It can also be a time of frustration with the Gardener for lopping off parts of me without asking for my opinion or permission.

 

Thinking about it a little more, gardeners don’t prune out of anger or frustration. They prune because they want the plant to grow healthier and stronger so that it can bear good fruit. The gardener sees the overall vision of the plant, while the plant can only “see” what’s right in front of them. With that in mind, Jesus’ words here make good sense. Pruning is the way God removes parts of us that are overgrown and not producing. It may mean we have to let go of some comforts, and doing that can remove troublesome distractions in our life. Through pruning we are able to see more clearly who we are and what God has in mind for us, even if that means enduring some pain along the way.

 

Whatever might pain us in the pruning process, it’s the transforming of our heart, mind, and soul that God wants to see, because he wants our fruit to grow—fruit that one day we will be able to share with others for the goodness and glory of our Lord, the master gardener. He won’t make any unnecessary “cuts.” Trust Him!

 

God is Indescribable - a Master Angler!

 

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6 ESV).

 

You may have read in previous posts of my love of the sport of fly-fishing. I have enjoyed many different locations seeking rainbow trout with my fly-rod. Anyone who has experienced catching a rainbow can tell you about all the excitement that can unfold when you hook one. The jumps and tail-walking across the surface of the water are exhilarating! It’s even greater when you hook a fish much bigger than one you planned for. The picture I’ve included today was taken in Tennessee with one of the rainbows I caught. It was a very good one, though I did catch a bigger one in Alaska. My face certainly reflects my joy at this accomplishment.

 

An angler—that is, a person who fishes with a rod and line—typically uses the equipment they need for catching a particular kind of fish. To catch a medium-size fish (like a trout), for example, you need tackle for that size of fish. But sometimes with that gear you can hook a much larger fish (like a salmon). And when that happens, chaos can break loose. The reel will spin furiously, unloading the line as the large fish swims powerfully away. Usually then you’ll have just two options: to let the fish run, and hopefully tire it out so that you can catch it; or simply to cut the line and let the fish go. A determined angler may decide to hold on, skillfully using the rod and line through a long tug of war and gradually reeling the fish in.

 

In some ways our relationship with God can be like that. We might be thinking we are free to do as we please, but God can “hook” us, and even though we might try to outrun and overpower him, he will never cut the grace-line or count us as a lost cause. He’ll fight for us and battle with us—and when all is said and done, he gives us the freedom to live a new and full life that is far beyond our imagining! In that way, He is a Master Angler!

 

God is Indescribable - a Strong Fortress!

 

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah (Psalm 46:1–7 ESV).

 

If you’re somewhere in the neighborhood of my age you will remember the polio outbreak of the 1950’s. It was a series of epidemics in the United States that peaked in 1952, causing widespread fear and resulting in nearly 58,000 cases, over 3,000 deaths, and thousands of cases of paralysis. The outbreaks led to public health measures like quarantines, and fear of contagion resulted in cancelled events and social isolation for many children. The crisis was eventually resolved with the development and widespread use of the polio vaccines by Jonas Salk in 1955 and Albert Sabin in 1961. The first delivery system of the vaccine was a series of three injections.

 

I was only 8 years old at the time, but I remember the experience vividly. We had a family doctor who made “house-calls” as was common then. The first time he came with his little black bag I was unaware of what he was there for. Daddy simply called me downstairs to come. I did and was greeted by the doctor with the BIGGEST needle I had ever seen in my young life. Of course he said, “this won’t hurt.” Never believe that! It hurt a lot. About two weeks later the doctor came again, black bag in hand. Well, I wasn’t lining up for that again, so, I went into the garage and grabbed my baseball bat and threatened to defend myself with all the strength I could muster. Needless to say, that didn’t go well. Another big shot in the arm! I began my planning immediately, since I overheard the doctor tell Daddy that he’d see me in a couple of weeks with the last of the injections. When I saw him approaching I grabbed my trusty BB gun and climbed up in the rafters of the garage offering me a perfect snipers’ perch when he walked into the garage. Well, that ended the same as the first two with the addition of a good spanking for trying to shoot the doctor! Thankfully that delivery system was changed soon and everyone could take the vaccine by eating a sugar cube on which it was placed.

 

Here’s the point… no matter what I tried, there was no safe shelter from what I perceived as a great danger. This is at the heart of our reading today. God offers us a more effective security and safety from the storms of life when pain flashes through our hearts and crises rattle us to the bone. Like a great comforter and yet stronger than a mighty fortress, our God invites us to take shelter in him and to be protected by his love, which is gentle and yet stronger than any force or calamity that may threaten.

 

A part of God’s indescribable nature is that He is our mighty fortress! Run to Him! He will not fail you!

 

God is Indescribable - an Advocate

 

[Jesus said] “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:15–17 ESV).

 

The word Jesus uses in our reading today and translated “Helper” is actually the word for “advocate.” We should remember that an advocate offers support and pleads on behalf of someone (or something), ensuring fair and honest treatment. An advocate aims to look after, protect, care for, and fight for the one they are assigned to. The Bible’s word for this, in Greek, is paraclete, and this means “called to the side of.”

 

The Holy Spirit, our paraclete, is God’s gift to all who follow Jesus. The Spirit of God continues the work of Jesus by empowering us to continue the Lord’s work on this earth: teaching, sharing the good news of God’s salvation, caring for the sick—the list goes on and on. In addition, the Holy Spirit helps us understand the truth of the message and ministry of Jesus. The Spirit of truth not only helps our understanding but is also our Counselor and Comforter, and these roles tie in with the work of an advocate as well.

 

Christians and the church have been given the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit, who comes alongside to protect and defend, encourage and embolden, admonish and correct. And through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord’s people carry on the truth of God’s redemptive plan for all creation.

 

If you are depending on anything or anything else to be your advocate, you will be disappointed. Trust in the only One who has the power to redeem and protect us! If you have God, you have all you need!

 

God is Indescribable - Master of All

 

[The Lord said to Job] “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war? What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth? Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt, to bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man, to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground sprout with grass? Has the rain a father, or who has begotten the drops of dew? From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the frost of heaven? The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.” (Job 38:22–30 ESV).

 

The picture I have included in today’s devotional is one of the first homes I grew up living in. The picture was taken over fifty years later than those childhood days, and a lot of remodeling has taken place. It is in Galveston, Texas. The first floor was entirely occupied by our family-owned grocery store. In those days the big supermarkets had not made their way into our culture and the corner grocery/meat market was an integral part of the community. We lived on the second floor of the structure. It was a two-bedroom, one bath home. I remember well the three twin beds where my brothers and I slept in one of those bedrooms. It seemed plenty big to me as I was growing up. Now, I wonder how we managed!

 

That seems to be a common theme as we get older and look back. The things that looked really big when we were a child don’t seem so big when you are older. But it’s not just the size of things that seems different; our perception of time changes too. When I was a boy, a summer night seemed to last and last, and a school year seemed to go on forever. Life changes as we age. Congested calendars and stacked schedules abbreviate our lives. Deadlines, commitments, and requests beg, steal, and borrow our attention from the beauty of life and the creation God has given us to care for and enjoy.

 

Maybe even more tragic is that we can lose our sense of God’s grandeur as we grow older. As children, we tend to view God as huge and magnificent, someone with incredible power and ability, able to do even more than any superhero! As we age and live longer, though, we can tend to question God’s actions, critique his plans, and challenge his authority. We might even believe we know what’s best for us, thinking we know our situation better than God does.

 

This is something of the context of our reading today. Job has come to question God in his pain and suffering. God’s answer is very clear: “Where were you when I created and ruled over all that is?” God is not being condescending or cruel. Job’s suffering was enormous; however, God’s power and promise was much greater. Job comes to understand that after this revelation. He turns to God in submission and recognizes God’s greatness.

 

There’s the message for us today. We need to turn to our Creator and ask for his mercy, for he holds us in his hands and truly loves and cares for us always. Trust Him. He alone is the Master of All!

 

God is Indescribable - Trusted Friend

 

[Jesus said] “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” (John 15:11-17 ESV).

 

Our reading today may be familiar to you. We have been in this passage recently. As I was read from Proverbs recently, I came to a verse declaring the importance of a “friend.” Solomon writes: A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17 ESV). One of God’s greatest gifts to humanity is relationships. We are created for relationships; we are designed by God to be in community with others.

 

We will meet many people over our lifetime. With some, we will have no more than brief interactions in passing by, and with others we will have friendly acquaintances. Still others will become friends, even close friends, and others will become companions for life. With some friends our relationships can feel as close as family, like a brother or sister, and we may love them just like family members. These are friends who will be there in both good times and bad, triumphs and tragedies, times of joy and times of sorrow.

 

Did you know that, in Jesus, God is actually our closest friend? He isn’t a passerby who merely sizes us up, or an acquaintance who enters our life from time to time. Jesus is our brother, our closest friend, who gave up his own life so that we can become the adopted children of God, members of God’s everlasting family, and coheirs in his eternal inheritance (cf. Romans 8:14-17).

 

What an incredible truth to ponder today! He is our trusted friend! This is the nature of our God!

 

God is Indescribable - Healer of Broken Hearts

 

The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:15-18 ESV).

 

Today we come to one of the most common needs of humanity. If you’ve lived any time at all you have experienced the feelings of a “broken heart.” It may have been the emptiness after the breakup of a significant relationship or your marriage; it could have been a betrayal by a trusted friend; or, the sudden loss of someone that you have deeply loved. Often people come to me when they have experienced such deep and troubling experiences. In almost every circumstance they have asked themselves “What went wrong?”

 

Thankfully God’s Word provides some guidelines to help us answer our questions and give us peace of mind when heartache and heartbreak happen. When we hurt, Scripture can provide comfort. It also gives us a way to express how we feel, especially when we don’t know what to say or how to say it. Much of that language can be found in the Psalms, and many psalms were written by people who shared their feelings candidly and honestly.

 

David, the writer of Psalm 34, didn’t have to search long for peace, and neither do we. God is near to those who hurt, and we can trust today that the One who gave the sun its ability to shine, who told the waters how far they could go, and who constantly watches over the universe is also near to us—and he’s saying, “I’ve got this, and I’ve got you.” This is the nature of our Heavenly Father. He is always near us, even when we may feel like our world is broken beyond any redemption. His grace and power mends our hearts and restores our wholeness. Trust in His good will to bring every circumstance to a victory for our good!

 

God is Indescribable - Friend

 

[Jesus said] “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” (John 15:12–17 ESV).

 

One of the most beloved of hymns is "What a Friend We Have in Jesus". It was originally written as a poem in 1855 by the Irish-born Canadian Joseph M. Scriven to comfort his mother during an illness. The words were later set to music in 1868 by the American composer Charles Crozat Converse, at which point it became the beloved hymn known today. Joseph Scriven's life was marked by significant personal tragedies, which imbued the words of his poem with a deep, personal resonance. On the eve of his first wedding in Ireland, his fiancée accidentally drowned in the River Bann. He moved to Canada in his mid-20s, seeking a new start. He fell in love again and planned to marry a woman named Eliza Catherine Roche, but she died of pneumonia shortly before their wedding in 1860. Around 1855, after receiving news that his mother was seriously ill in Ireland and unable to travel to her, Scriven wrote the poem to send to her as a source of private solace. The original title of the poem was "Pray Without Ceasing".

 

So many people have such an incomplete understanding of this part of the indescribable nature of God. They often picture God sitting on an ornate throne made of rare metals, adorned with priceless jewels, and upholstered in the finest fabric. From this lofty perch they imagine God as an uninvolved spectator to our loves. That’s simply not the picture of our God in the Scripture. Imagine for a moment that He isn’t sitting in lavishness associated with royalty but instead is sitting at the corner booth in a local coffee shop, or on the couch in your family room, eagerly waiting for you. Then as you enter, God, who is so excited to see you, leaps from his seated position and embraces you like a friend who longs to hear how you are doing and what you have been up to. The beauty of God is that he is not only the King of all creation but also the attentive friend who is always near.

 

God is Indescribable - Father

 

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:12–17 ESV).

 

Belonging to something bigger or greater than ourselves is something that nearly everyone wants. We experience moments of belonging at concerts, or sporting events, or community gatherings. In those moments we can feel like a member of our favorite musical group or like a player for our favorite sports team. We feel connected as we share stories with our neighbors and friends. We feel seen. We feel heard. We feel accepted. We may even feel loved.

 

God has a similar desire for us—he wants us to feel that we belong to him. God longs for us to feel connected to him, to be satisfied in knowing that he sees, hears, and accepts us. The difference, though, in belonging to God begins with his unconditional love and care for us. That kind of love happens when we accept and embrace that God’s love for us is so great and grand that he wants to satisfy our greatest desire of belonging by adopting us into his family and calling us his own. As a part of God’s eternal family, we are seen, we are heard, we are accepted, and we are loved by the unconditional love of our heavenly Father.

 

The title "Father" emphasizes a close, personal relationship rather than a distant or tyrannical one. It's a privilege earned through adoption into God's family via Jesus Christ. This role also includes providing for needs, guiding followers to do right, and correcting them through discipline for their good. A fatherly God is portrayed as loving, compassionate, and deeply invested in the well-being of his children. This love is often described as unconditional and provides a sense of safety.

 

 

Describing the Indescribable

 

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them. But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:8–15 ESV).

 

Somehow November has snuck up on me this year more than most. Perhaps it is the level of activity that makes the days seem to have passed so much more quickly than usual; or it could just be a reflection of my aging memory. However, here we are with the first week of November already relegated to the past. Before I know it, it will be time to get the Christmas decorations down from the attic and begin putting them in all the “just right spots” as we prepare for Christmas celebrations.

 

One of the other tasks is deciding where to go with Morning Devotionals. Often it is an easy decision. This was one of those times. I was privileged to accompany my son, Kyle, and a wonderful friend, Mark Turner, on a wild hog hunt recently. It is a rather interesting story, though I won’t detail that today. What struck me was the sunset as the end of the hunt drew near. Sitting in the quiet of the pasture I was struck with the indescribable beauty of God’s creation. That made it possible to follow a trail in my mind that details all the other times God simply shows up with something that can only be described as indescribable. That’s because He is just that… indescribable.

 

So, for the next few days, maybe weeks, I’m going to ramble a bit about the indescribable nature of God. It may sound a bit strange at first since we are finite and God is infinite; it may even stretch us a bit in a very positive way before we get to Christmas. After all, that was the most indescribable of all things in history. God becoming man to redeem us cannot be adequately described. It is simply too grand for us to fully take in.

 

Let me encourage you to take a trip through your memories and make some notes of your own about the indescribable nature of God and how He has shown Himself to you. As you do that, perhaps we will have some overlap that will encourage you with the hope His nature reveals to us. After all… “there is none like Him among all the gods” (v. 1).

 

Virtues over Vices - Goodness

 

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. (2 Peter 1:1–10 ESV).

 

Today the virtue I want us to explore is that of “goodness.” Have you ever stopped to think about what “goodness” actually is? It was probably one of the earliest concepts we learned. Something was good if we felt positively about it. And later, as we grew, we learned to add descriptions such as beautiful, healthy, pleasant, and more. The kind of goodness that Peter describes in our reading today was prized in the Greek culture. It pointed to a kind of excellence that could overcome a great difficulty. For example, this would describe a Greek athlete who gained a victory despite an injury that would have kept most others from competing.

 

Christ challenges us to make our best efforts in striving with excellence to live like him. By his Spirit, he has given us the power—and even the victory. And in line with our being made in God’s image, I believe, we can find great satisfaction in our productive efforts to live as we are called. The level of goodness described in this passage is about doing our very best to live for Christ, and at the end of the day we can look back with satisfaction on the spiritual challenges we have faced and thank God for helping us.

 

Virtues over Vices - Mercy

 

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:9–13 ESV).

 

Can a leopard change their spots? No, a leopard cannot change its spots; the pattern is determined by genetics before birth and remains a permanent part of its coat. This fact is the basis for the idiom "a leopard can't change its spots," which means people cannot change their fundamental character or nature. However, this idiom is based on a truth that is simply incomplete. Stay with me for a bit today…perhaps you remember the story of Mary Magdalene.

 

Her coming to faith in Jesus is well documented in the Scripture (cf. Luke 7). From that passage we have often heard a phrase used in reference to the incredible transformation Jesus makes in a person’s life: “She knelt down a prostitute, but stood up a saint.”  While the Bible doesn't explicitly state she was a prostitute, the tradition began with Pope Gregory I in the 6th century and has been widely adopted, portraying her as the "woman who was a sinner" who wept at Jesus's feet. The line is a powerful depiction of transformation and redemption. It is a picture of how there is indeed one way that a leopard can change their spots!

 

The whole point of Jesus’ coming was to change people. And while only God can truly change people, God grants those changes abundantly. That’s because God acts with mercy, and he calls us to do the same.

 

Too often people get caught up in trying to please God by their acts of worship, including sacrifices—that is, giving things up in order to please God. But if our actions are just self-serving, they are not sacrificial. Yet, ironically, if we act with mercy toward someone struggling to turn their life around, that is a sacrifice that pleases God.

 

In Christ, we can believe that a person’s life can change. And if you are wondering if God will accept you despite what you’ve done with your life, yes, he absolutely will accept you. Give your life to him today and pray for others to encourage you in your life of faith. Live both accepting mercy and giving mercy!

 

Virtues over Vices - Patience

 

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:12–17 ESV).

 

Earlier in our devotionals we looked at the virtue of steadfast endurance, a sort of “super-patience.” Today our attention is on the more normal patience we need as we deal with waiting in everyday life. It’s that kind of attitude that is so commonly set aside when things don’t go as well as we’d like, or our schedule gets interrupted by something we simply didn’t anticipate. It’s finishing up your grocery shopping and reaching the check-out are and the only two lanes open are stacked up with folks buying a basket full of groceries and enjoying their conversation with the clerk about the change in weather; or, it’s pulling your car into the gas station only to find the only open lanes have yellow bags over the nozzles since they are wither out of gas or broken. These are the times that simply require “normal patience.”

 

This kind of patience requires practice. It requires the ability to stay calm and collected while waiting or facing frustration, and can be cultivated through mindful practices, shifting your perspective, and accepting what you cannot control. It involves responding to frustrating situations with self-control instead of anger and focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on problems. It’s heartwarming that Paul uses this type of patience to describe Jesus’ waiting before we repent and commit our lives to him. It suggests that Jesus never lost sight of our future in him. He knew he would win us over; it was just a matter of time. So, he was patient, being the best of teachers, even when we insisted on doing things our own wrong way.

 

This passage prompts us not to hide the patience we needed from Christ. We should be open about our sinfulness and repentance and faith so that the patience Jesus had with us will be on full display. And as we share the story of Christ’s patience with us, we will grow in patience and understanding toward others who still need to “believe in him and receive eternal life.” It is an essential virtue to develop!

 

Virtues over Vices - Kindness

 

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:1–10 ESV).

 

"Nice" and "kind" are often used interchangeably, but kindness is generally considered a deeper trait, stemming from genuine care and empathy, while niceness can be more superficial and focused on politeness or pleasing others. Kindness often involves acting in a person's best interest, which may include having difficult conversations or setting boundaries, whereas niceness is more about agreeable behavior that avoids conflict. In the Scripture the Greek word chrestotes, translated as “kindness,” goes deeper. It refers to making ourselves useful or beneficial to others, and sometimes that is much more difficult to do.

 

In our reading today, taken from Ephesians 2, we see some amazing things about the grace of God. By God’s grace we receive the free gift of salvation from our sins. The gift is free, and yet we sometimes forget that it changes us. Grace gets results. Grace is useful, beneficial, and kind.

 

Grace is useful because it changes us. It lifts us up. It seats us on a heavenly throne with Christ Jesus—we become minor rulers serving the King of kings! But don’t forget that kings have responsibilities. Our royal responsibilities include showing the grace of God to everyone, everywhere. We do that by living out the good works that the King of kings has prepared for us to do. And when we do those good works, we become useful, or kind to the world, which in turn can better understand the grace of God expressed through the kindness of Christ Jesus to us.

 

How are you doing in the development of kindness toward others?

 

Virtues over Vices - Peacemaking

 

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13–18 ESV).

 

Peace is so much more than an absence of conflict. Peace involves people and systems working in harmony together. Peace is an existence full of well-being, in which our bodies, our relationships, our environment, and even our governments and economies are healthy. Peace even grows righteousness, which brings flourishing and justice for all. Where there is righteousness, people treat each other with love, patience, and all other virtues. Peace is an existence we dream of, which Jesus promised to bring us.

 

Peace is not here yet. But we can have tastes of it. We can even build little communities of it for a time. The Holy Spirit built a community of peace among the early Christians (cf. Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-37). And some examples today include Christians living in “intentional communities” together.

 

Sometimes our calling and our God-given responsibilities in this world prevent us from creating a community where we can live mainly with others who share our desire for peace. But we can learn a lot from such communities, and we can be peacemakers in the world at large.

 

Where do you see a lack of peace in the community you are a part of, and what can you do to sow some peace there? Do you already know how to do that? Whom could you learn from?

 

Virtues over Vices - Encouragement

 

“And the LORD heard your words and was angered, and he swore, ‘Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land that I swore to give to your fathers, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and to his children I will give the land on which he has trodden, because he has wholly followed the LORD!’ Even with me the LORD was angry on your account and said, ‘You also shall not go in there. Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. But as for you, turn, and journey into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea.’” (Deuteronomy 1:34–40 ESV).

 

It is never easy being replaced by someone younger and less experienced, even if they are more knowledgeable and capable. I find the most common experience of this in our lives happens when we see our children grow up, marry, and have children. Somehow making the transition from parent to grandparent is a challenge. It is difficult to stop being a mom or dad, even though you clearly are not the mom or dad. This is that moment when we need to transition to a great encourager rather than an instructor. We see some of this principle in our reading today.

 

Moses had led God’s people out of Egypt and across the Red Sea (Exodus 1-15). He had received God’s law and taught it to the people (Exodus 20-50), and by God’s grace he had brought them to the edge of the promised land. But the people had rebelled, and God had turned them back to wander in the wilderness for forty years (Numbers 13-14). Now they were about to enter the promised land again, but Moses would not be leading them in. God had chosen Joshua to do that instead.

 

In Deuteronomy, Moses gives his farewell address, and here he says God told him to “encourage” Joshua. More literally, this means “strengthen.” This seems counterintuitive at first, but it is actually a great gift to Moses to be the one to strengthen or encourage Joshua. As Moses empowers Joshua in front of everyone, Joshua steps in to continue Moses’ success rather than just being his replacement. Joshua’s success becomes part of Moses’ legacy. Encouragement is a virtue to develop!

Virtues over Vices - Empathy

 

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:12–24 ESV).

 

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. It is a vital social and communication skill that helps people build connections, navigate relationships, and act with compassion toward others. The concept has been explored through both evolutionary biology and neuroscience, which show that humans are innately wired to connect with one another on an emotional level. The Greeks had a word for “encouragement” that was quite similar to our understanding of empathy. It came from the idea of being with someone in their story. That’s the word Paul uses in our reading today for helping the disheartened. Disheartened people are basically those who have lost some of their hope.

 

In our reading for today, Paul urges us to be our best selves for everyone we encounter. Some people find that easier to do than others do. People who are disheartened can be a bit difficult to spend time with. The emotions of others tend to affect us, so we might prefer to be with people who have happiness and excitement to share. But Paul points out that to be truly Christlike, we also need to give our time to those who are struggling.

 

It’s interesting that Paul also goes on to tell us to “rejoice always” (v. 16). Entering into a disheartening story should not dishearten us. It might make us sad or angry, but it shouldn’t cause us to lose hope. With hope we retain joy despite the sadness or anger we may feel with a disheartened friend, because we know that the disheartening things of this world do not have the final say. And we can bring that hope and joy into the other person’s story, doing so in a way that shows they are not alone. With that simple action, we can help to change their story by being a part of it. Empath is a virtue worth attaining!

 

Virtues over Vices - Hopsitality

 

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. (Hebrews 13:1–3 ESV).

 

It’s a bit strange to me that over the centuries “hospitality” has become an industry. In fact, the annual market value in the United States has surpassed $250 billion just in the lodging category. This was virtually unknown at the time when our reading today was written. People were expected to show generous hospitality to travelers who might have nowhere else to stay as they went from town to town.

 

The context of this advice urges believers in God to show love and care for one another as well for others who may be in need, such as strangers, travelers, and people in prison. This advice echoes the words of Jesus in Matthew 25, where he teaches that caring for the needs of others is like doing the same for him.

 

This passage in Hebrews also invites us to consider that a stranger or visitor we encounter might be an angel—that is, a messenger from God (cf. Genesis 18). The point is that we should treat anyone we meet as being so valuable and worthy of our time that they might be sent from God, and that showing love and care to them would be like doing the same for the Lord himself.

 

This can be hard to imagine, especially if hospitality is not common in our culture and we need to be wary of danger. But here the Spirit of God is challenging us simply to treat others well, showing love and kindness to everyone, no matter who they are. In other words, we are called to love and care for others just as the Lord has done for us.