God Is Bigger Than You Think
Do you imagine God smaller than he really is?This week I'm preparing a message about the magnitude of God, based on the second commandment, Exodus 20:4
Here's my idea: The prohibition against making idols was really a warning against reducing God to a manageable size. We often do that, I think, when we try to dictate how God should answer prayers or believe that he shares our goals or prejudices. We want God to be just like us, only big enough to handle our problems.
While we may say say at God is great, we often act as if he's a teeny little guy we can carry around in our pocket to perform for us on demand. By doing that, we make God appear smaller than he really is. As a result we are often surprised, as Job was, when God doesn't behave the way we think he should.
God is pretty large. In fact, he has no limits. No limits. He is not limited by time, space, gender, or race. Most of us get that. He also is not limited by logic, law, or morality (read Gen. 22 and ponder the fact that God commanded Abraham to kill his own son!). This is the thought that I want to lead people to this week:
God is bigger than you think.
What would be the result in our lives if we caught a glimpse of how huge God really is?
How would our lives improve if we stopped trying to manipulate God and were more content to trust him?
What experiences have you had that caused you to see God's vast ability, wisdom, or power?
What images or word-pictures would help communicate this to others? Continue Reading >
4 Comments:
The other day as I walked toward the back of my office building I noticed a small bug insistently flying into the glass door. Just as he backed up and flew forward for one more shot, I opened the door. He breezed past me into the blue sky and I could just imagine him thinking, "Wow, look at what I can do." I can be a bit like that little bug at times. I hit the glass over and over trying to accomplish something. Then my great big God comes up, opens the door like it's nothing, and I soar in ways I never could on my own. Sometimes God's work in our lives makes us feel as if we are bigger and more powerful than we are but the reality is we can do nothing without Him.
I like that comparison. We're really riding on God's coat tails.
Sometimes I think I might be like Samson's dad in Judges- "Surely now we die!"...if I ever saw a glimpse of our Amazing God. :) Thanks for the reminder to stop making God a genie in a bottle, and live like He is as big as He says.
I've just recently been convicted of how much I limit God, how I make plans and invite him to join them instead of following him. Some of this comes from the comforts of my life and not "needing" God. It can be a danger for everyone in our society. I don't want to get safely to heaven, I don't think that's how God intended for us to live.
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