Filled with Love

God is very good, and He wants us to know Him. He shows—or reveals—who He is to us in two ways.

First, He created the universe and filled it with good things. Even though our world is broken by the effects of sin, everything in creation was created good and that goodness remains and points to God, bringing Him glory (Genesis 1:1, 31; Psalm 24:1; Romans 8:19-23). When creation points to God, it is called “general revelation.”

Second, God gave us His Word, the Bible, so we could get to know Him and have a relationship with Jesus (Acts 10:43; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). When God shows Himself through the Bible, it is called “special revelation,” a type of revelation that is more specific.

In other words, creation suggests to us that God exists and is a powerful Creator and encourages us to seek Him out (Isaiah 40:25-31; Romans 1:18-20). Then, God’s Word shows us the rest—the specifics—of what we need to know about Him.

All of this means that it’s important to base our ideas about God on His Word because the Bible is the only place where God reveals Himself fully as He wants to be known—through Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-3). God is the One who wrote the Bible, and He is good and does not lie (Psalm 34:8; John 17:17; Titus 1:2). What He says lasts forever (Isaiah 40:6-8).

What God says also affects the way we view forever: God loves us and has made a way for those who put their trust in Him to live forever with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; 2 Peter 3:9-13; Revelation 21:1-8, 27). At that time, creation will no longer be broken by sin and everything will glorify God in an even clearer way because we will see Jesus as He is (1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 John 3:2). • Kandi Zeller

• Reread Psalm 19. What does this passage say about creation? What does it say about God’s Word (or the things God says)?

• What’s your favorite part of creation? How does it remind you of who God is?

• What’s your favorite part of the Bible? Why? What does it show you about God?

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands…. The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:1, 7 (NIV)

Read Verses:

Matthew 5:43-48; 22:36-40; 1 John 4:19