“The Many Faces of God”

What does God look like to you? 

What is your image when you think about God?

I believe that many of us have visual images and beliefs of God that are not Biblical.

We often refer to God as our heavenly Father – which is good and correct, but we often go wrong in our view of what our heavenly Father is like.

 Some look at Him, as a constantly “disciplining God.”  While He does have to correct us and discipline us (Hebrews 12:6-8), seeing Him too often in this way is not a balanced picture of God.

Seeing God as a constantly ANGRY, MEAN, MAD, and even a DISCIPLINING God (24/7) is not the picture I believe we should have of our heavenly Father.

        This image of God is from the Sistine Chapel.

 I am not a psychologist or psychiatrist, but I do believe many people get their image of God from their example in an earthly father.  While I have a good dad, he wasn't perfect; and as much as I love and respect him, I believe it is good that my image of my heavenly Father is better than anything my natural father could have been to me.  Some people have had earthly fathers who abandoned them, abused them, mistreated them, were critical of them, etc., and as a result, some people see their heavenly Father the same.  We must base our beliefs of our heavenly Father from what the Bible tells us about Him.

In the Bible, JEHOVAH (LORD) means most likely the self-existent one (I am who I am or I am the One who is) and denotes God's personal name and His eternality.  It is often used in relationship to God as redeemer and covenant keeper.

 In this we see the different attributes and characteristics of the LORD revealed.

The following are just some of those Old Testament Jehovah compound names:

Jehovah Jireh means “the LORD provides" (Genesis 22:14).

Jehovah Rapha means “the LORD who heals" (Exodus 15:26).

Jehovah Shalom means “the LORD is peace" lack of tension, conflict and strife in God (Judges 6:24).

Jehovah Nissi means “the LORD is my banner" or “God my Standard of Victory" and signifies that the battle is the Lord's  (Exodus 17:15).

Jehovah Tsidkenu means “the LORD our righteousness," God is the source of our righteousness  (Jeremiah 23:6).

Jehovah Raah means “the LORD our Shepherd" and denotes our Shepherd who tenderly leads us, loves us and will keep us safe (Psalm 23:1).

Jehovah Shammah means “the Lord is present,” God’s abiding presence. Thus he will not abandon you. He will stay, not to just visit (Ezekiel 48:35).

In the New Testament I would like to share a few scriptures that tell us what God is like in relation to us, who have accepted Jesus into our lives as SAVIOR and LORD.

Jesus is the image (Phil. 2:6 Col. 1:14-16) of our heavenly Father. 

We can learn about our heavenly Father by LOOKING AT JESUS.

Well known picture of "Jesus Christ".

I like this picture, but this is a "North American" Jesus

and likely has no resemblance  of what Jesus truly looked like.

More importantly than His facial features are what he looked like in every day life,

let's read more about that and I'll add some pictures that I believe will show us who God is!

Oh, how Jesus (God) LOVES you and me (John 3:16)!

Our hearts should cry “ABBA” meaning father, or more closely “daddy (or “papa”).

It conveys,  “tenderness, dependence, and a relationship free from fear or anxiety.”

God is that one perfect father – daddy!  This has always ministered to my heart.  (See Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6)

 In conclusion, can you see God as a laughing God?

 A few years ago, I saw a picture of Jesus laughing, and honestly I thought it was almost irreverent. 

I don’t feel that way now!  I believe there can be healing in seeing God LAUGHING. 

I’m sure some of you just have a hard time picturing that. 

Let me help you by with this picture of Jesus laughing.

NOTE: Jesus Laughing is found on many sites.
BUT the official site is: www.jesuslaughing.com

YOU CAN BUY THIS PRINT AND MUCH MORE AT THEIR SITE!

How about a compassionate, crying, weeping Jesus?

I have always found this picture touching and just an incredible picture.

How about a God who isn’t hurting us, but is PROTECTING us? 

  Praise the LORD many have been touched by this picture over the years.

I believe a picture speaks a THOUSAND words (or more) and these pictures WILL minister to many of you – AMEN for that!

Some more touching pictures:

  But even these

 great pictures are pale images in the face of an eternal God 

who loves us even beyond anything we can even picture. 

It’s even beyond human comprehension – Such a wonderful, loving God!!!  

Do you have a negative view of God? 

If so, I pray that the LORD, through this devotion, and more importantly through the pages of the Bible,

will open your eyes to see Him as the wonderful, loving God He really is!

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

In His Service,

Jim (jim@biblefood.org)