1 PETER 3:12a – For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
THEME OF THE DAY. LIVING OUT THEOLOGY. They are big words and important words. Theologians call them “communicable” and “incommunicable”. They are referring to the attributes of God. For example, a couple of His communicable attributes are “wisdom”, “holiness”, and “love”. By being “communicable”, it means His people are able to imitate them in their lives. He “communicates” these attributes of Himself through the new birth enabling His people to live them out in a progressive manner. However, not so with God’s incommunicable attributes. Three examples will show us; His “omniscience” – all-knowing, all things, all the time; His “omnipotence” – all-powerful, all the time, over all things; and His “omnipresence” – being everywhere, all the time. It isn’t difficult to see how they contrast “communicable” attributes. We, as creations, not the creator, cannot “communicate” or model omniscience, omnipresence, or omnipotence. But when it comes to living out the Christian life pleasing to the Lord, a strong motivator and energizer is His incommunicable attributes, particularly the two in today’s scripture – God’s omniscience; knows all things and His omnipresence; present everywhere. Let’s apply them to living today for the Lord by renewing our minds with these two attributes.
First, remembering God is all-knowing is a source of great joy. Friends, nothing coming into our lives today will catch God by surprise. He isn’t going to panic and have to react over something catching Him off guard. And not only does His all-knowing attribute assure no surprises, it also means all things are ordained by Him. Or as the Apostle Paul would put it, “In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11). We can rest in our all-knowing God with confidence because He is also all-loving!
The other attribute to remember of our God is specifically in today’s scripture – His omnipresence, or being everywhere, all the time. As we think on this glorious truth, two things may be applied. First, by remembering He is everywhere, all the time, we are given a great deterrent against sin. Think about it when we are tempted. At the first sign of temptation, if we remember God is here with us in the temptation, we will defeat it out of desire not to displease and break His heart. Imagining not only God is with us, but in us, provides a source of strength to prevent the temptation from becoming sin. There is also another great help in living the Christian life through remembering His always present being. We are never without the source of comfort. Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). That does not mean we will always feel His presence, but faith will always grasp His presence. And here lies our comfort in trying and sorrowing times; the God who is, is the God who is near; with us twenty-four, seven, now and for eternity.
For sure, theologians use big words when describing God, but they are big words with simple meanings and applications. May the Lord help us take His attributes and not only inform our heads, but enflame our hearts and move our wills toward faithful Christian living for His glory.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to cultivate a lifestyle living with a conscious awareness of Your watchful eye upon me.”
QUOTE: “There is never a time our testimony for the Lord Jesus is not under the observing eyes of the world and Lord.”