Only God is God

Only God is God, and thus I am not God. In spite of the observations about myself posted below on May 16, 2014, I easily forget and continually ignore how partial and limited I really am. I like to be in control. My intelligent craving to be comprehensive and encyclopedic fools me into thinking I might know at least most of what there is to know about something, and so I come to think of myself as God. But only God knows everything and everyone; only God has the complete plan for anything and anyone; only God can think and feel and will absolutely all things all at once; and only God’s ministry with his Spirit can actually cover all the bases. Only God is God.

[I’ve just added this item to my booklet, “30 Meditations for the Proud,” to the portion posted May 18, 2014.]

Overemphasis and Underestimation

I have come to the conclusion that theological divisions among Christians generally come from overemphasizing and/or underemphasizing certain teachings. I have also concluded that there is only one "subject" that cannot be overemphasized, and that is Jesus Christ.

I've also come to think that there are two huge parallel subjects that we commonly underestimate. We underestimate the extent of sin, and we underestimate the extent of grace.

Sin has enormous and far-reaching consequences. It is personal, but also corporate, generational, cultural, national, etc. It touches absolutely everything with unimaginable ruin.

At the same time, God’s goodness and love freely given in the gospel of his grace has enormous and far-reaching consequences. It is everywhere always present and evident if one has eyes to see it. It hopes for, promises, and guarantees unimaginable redemption, restoration, and glory.