Qualities of I AM

It is said that our picture of God is based on our picture of our earthly fathers. If your father is stern and unloving, you see God as harsh. If you had an abusive father, you see God as unjust, not loving. If you see your father as a perfectionist, you see God as being hypercritical, just waiting for you to make a mistake and bam, you are punished. If your father left your family behind, you may wonder if God will abandon you too! How do you view your earthly father?

My father was very strict, but loving. I have to say though that I always felt that I had to live up to a perfect standard, afraid if I was rebellious or did something wrong it would put him in a bad light. My dad was a pastor, our family lived in a "fish bowl" for all to see. People in the church held us up on a pedestal with high expectations. It has taken me most of my adult life to "just accept" the love of God. I don't have to "do" anything to earn his love. I just had to accept that He loves me no matter what, because I am His child. It was not a short journey or an easy one.

In my previous blog I talked about the attributes of God. Beyond those attributes, He has many distinctive qualities.

God is Love.
I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:18
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only son. That whoever believes in Him, will not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

God is merciful.
For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath. Deuteronomy 4:31
Mercy is defined as God's lenient compassion. He doesn't give us what we deserve.

God is full of grace. In Him, we have redemption, through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:7-8
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us. Psalm 67:1
Grace is unmerited favor, we don't do anything to do deserve grace.

God is righteous. Righteous are you, O Lord, and your laws are right. The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy. Psalm 119:137-138
Righteousness is a condition of being in right relationship with God.

God is good.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. "No one is good-except God alone". Mark 10:18

God is faithful.
God is faithful to all of His promises. The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all that He has made. Psalm 145:13
He is the rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He. Deuteronomy 32:4

God's justice is impartial and fair.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. Hebrews 6:10
Because of your stubborness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God will give to each person according to what he has done. Romans 2:5-6

God hates sin.
For those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be anger and wrath. Romans 2:8
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed which is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of God is coming. Colossians 5:6
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Romans 6:23

God has perfect wisdom.
The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peaceloving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

God is powerful.
You are worthy our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. Revelations 4:11
The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets. Psalm 50:1
The power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. Luke 5:17
You have been given fullness in Christ, who is head over every power and authority...having buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:10-12

I know this post has been lengthy but I have had such a burdened heart that there are so many that have such a limited knowledge about who God is. It is hard to have faith in someone when you just don't understand Him. Take my word for it, time and time again, He has proved His faithfulness to me. There are times when everyone has a doubt. But I always go back to all the times He as been faithful to everything He has promised, especially when I seek Him and ask! Experiences only deepen my faith and it becomes easier to surrender my life to Him!