God is God and besides Him, there is no other. He is the Holy Other, the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Lord of all creation. Those acquainted with Him know that God is above and beyond all our finite minds can grasp and yet, He is our Father who understands us better than we can even hope to understand ourselves. He is our Creator God and the sustainer of all things and is perfectly holy and just. God has demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, He sent His Son to redeem us and to use us in the full and rich life of His Kingdom.

His justice being tempered with longsuffering and mercy; He is concerned with our daily living and that we may find in His companionship the guidance and strength we need in the difficult details and practical problems of our lives.

God is the center of His Book which was given to us to learn of Him. In it, we learn of how He revealed Himself to the prophets and made known His character and demands of His people. We learn of His revelation through His Son, Christ Jesus, who so fully revealed the moral characteristics of God that He and He alone could claim deity Himself. Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."

Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:8-14 (NIV)

We talk about Him, read about Him, hear about Him, pray to Him, sing praises to Him and see movies about Him. But do we know God in our own personal experience? Is He a remote ideal or is He real to us? Do we feel His presence and know of His personal interest in us?

To know God on a personal, intimate level is not the same as knowing all about Him. But what sincere believing Christians claim is that we have experienced God in our lives and know that He loves His creatures and desires that we recognize His great love. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is our God.

Before anything began, God was. Before worlds had beginning, He was from everlasting to everlasting. God was, God is, and God always shall be. Man has difficulty accepting this truth. Since creation, man has been trying to match wits with His creator. And so God has been busy teaching mankind that He is God and besides Him there is no other. He is God alone. This is the lesson He has been teaching us since we went astray from Him. He has been busy breaking down high places, exalting low valleys, casting down imaginations and pride, that we might know that He is God alone. There is no one else to turn to who can meet our every need.

The Teacher

He was an exceptional teacher,
Had received the highest degree.
From the College of Life Experience
He earned his Ph.D.

He taught what it meant to live
A life of self-sacrifice.
He was totally devoted to others,
Though He paid an exorbitant price.

He was one solitary life who
From a grace procured from above,
Sacrificed so much of Himself
Motivated by nothing but love.

He was wholly and solely committed,
Honor bond to set men free.
So He died on Calvary's cross that day,
To redeem all humanity.

He was ridiculed, hurt and abused,
Profaned and labeled as odd.
Men thought they could kill the Teacher;
Didn't know He was man and God.

Yes, He was indeed "The Teacher,"
And "The Teacher" He will forever be;
For none who lives or has died
Can compare to such as He.

SLW

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available soon.

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Blessings to all!