Posted by j on April 03, 2003 at 19:00:47:
In Reply to: I've been pondering the attributes of God and... posted by Rob on April 03, 2003 at 09:21:31:
: There are a few I would like to discuss, if anyone would like to and they have time.
: Topic One: Is God practical?
: Topic Two: Does He make himself known to us in an attainable manner?
: These ponderings are the results of the "God is out there and I am in here" and "God is a total mystery and cannot be concretely known by man" discussions I have found myself in lately with some of my friends and co-workers.
: ////My Little Thoughts - Beginning////
: I know God is infinite. I know we are finite. That tells me a lot about our ability to misunderstand even the things He does try to tell us about Himself. On top of that, it lets me know that even though we may not "get it"; His mercy and grace (known attributes) supercede our blindness. I know we cannot understand God in His essence but we have to be able to know Him in some capacity otherwise the whole idea of the Cross would be voided, would it not?
: I guess I'm looking for a world of discussion! :0|
Howdy...
It sounds like you are questioning purpose here (specifically regarding knowing God "in some capacity"). I can see a relationship with Christ's sacrifice on the cross to our yearning to know Him, definitely. Aside from that, I would say that His death (burial and resurrection) is a definite way to God. The veil of the temple was torn... through His acts, we have "access" to God. I tend to think of this as a continual practice of "knowing" God.
I think of many times in my life when I acted without regard for God, and yet I was acting in direct obedience to His will. There are many more times where I feel that I am hooked in, and at some point later in time, I realize I was far from His step.
The first scripture I learned plops into my consciousness - Prov. 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all thy ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths." (NIV says something like ...and He will make your paths straight.)
J