If you were enrolled in a Christianity 101 class, some of the questions asked might be:
Who is God and what is His proper place?
What should His proper and rightful position be in the scheme of things?
How relevant is He to me personally?
Now that I’m a Christian and I have Jesus in my heart, where else is He supposed to be?
And, how important is it that I get Him put in the right place?
A few answers are:
He is:
Omnipotent - Almighty, All-powerful, Supreme
Omnipresent – Universally ever present
Omniscient – All knowing
Creator of everything
Purveyor of salvation through Jesus Christ
Master of all.
Seeing as God, the God of the Bible, is all of these things and more, in what position should His children place Him? More importantly, more personally, what position does God hold in the life of the individual Christian. In what place have you put Him in your life?
God Himself has instructed us to have ‘No other gods before Me’. Christians should put God in His proper place. His place is above all others – including ourselves. God’s will and plan is supposed to be above our own plans and will.
God is our Father. He is the Father of all humankind in that He is the creator of all people. Unfortunately, mankind is separated from God by the fall from grace that occurred in the garden east of Eden.
Fortunately, God in his mercy, made a way for mankind to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
Christians should put God in His place as our Heavenly Father by adoption. That is His proper place. As our Father, He is in a position of authority over His children. His proper place is a place of honor. This honor to God is demonstrated by obedience to Him..
We should view our Father as loving us more than we can comprehend, for He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life. Above all earthly parents, God is still like earthly parents. He loves His children. He wants good things for them. Unlike earthly parents, He knows exactly what is good for His children, and what is harmful to His children. Therefore, Christians should place God in a place of supreme trust. He is worthy. He will not let us down.
Our Father is also in a place of approachability. He has time for the individual Christian. He is never too busy for fellowship with one of His children. However, respect and awe of who He is is not to be set aside as we approach Him. Some people approach God with a sense that they are approaching an elderly man who will be easily swayed in His judgments. Perhaps some even believe they are able to manipulate God through some sort of cuteness, or pertness, or ritual, or some other such silliness. In approaching God, it must be with a constant awareness of His place as the Righteous Judge as well as the loving and merciful Father.
Within the boundaries of reverence and awe, we can approach Him boldly and expectantly.
Our God is the God of resources. He has what we need, and is willing to give it to us according to His purpose and His timeframe. It is highly likely that we do not need exactly the things for which we ask; or, the things we want; or the things we think we need. Never the less, God Almighty has the resources to fill our needs. Christians should put God in the place of the ultimate supplier.
To know the things the Lord says to do, and then to actually incorporate His teachings into our daily lives is to acknowledge Him as Lord, and glorify His name. God’s place is in charge of the life of each one of His children. When God is acknowledged as being the leader then a Christian can expect to be directed in the right paths.
Proverbs 3:6
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-7 (in Context) Proverbs 3 (Whole Chapter)
God has given His children a model prayer, also called ‘The Disciples Prayer’, and ‘The Lord’s Prayer’. This prayer directs Christians not only in how to pray, but also in how to put God in His proper place.
Our Father who art in heaven – puts God in the position of our Father and in the place of heaven.
Hallowed be thy name – acknowledges God’s holiness – and puts Him in His proper place as the Holy One.
Thy kingdom come – is putting God in His place as the ruler of the coming kingdom.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven – is praying for good and right according to God –
Examples of God’s will are:
That we love Him
That we love our families
That we do the things He tells us to do
That we remember Him at all times
That we cry out against evil and wrong and sorrow and hurt – the things that are not of
God – and plead with Him for His will to be done instead. For instance – abortion is murder. We can pray ‘thy will be done’ regarding abortion because we know that God’s will does not include killing preborn children.
That the things of God concern us more than the things of self – God’s things before our own – and let our own wants change to be in harmony with God’s wants-will
That we persist in prayer
That we not accept the world the way it is – but pray for the will of God to be done instead. Instead of corruption – righteousness, instead of hunger around the world – food for all, instead of thieving – honesty……..
Give us this day our daily bread – is putting God His place as our provider. As we need, God will provide.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil – is putting God in His place as our protector.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever – is putting God in His place as the supreme authority over all creation. Rather, I suppose, it is acknowledging His place or position as such.
Christians should be continually seeking to put and keep God in authority over every aspect of their lives.
A checkup regarding God’s place in the life of an individual Christian can be made by asking, ‘What is my vision of my stuff?’
Is my treasure in heaven or on earth? Am I laying up more earthly treasure than heavenly treasure?
Do I serve God or mammon? Is my main focus on material things and how to get and keep them, or more on God and the things He asks of me?
Is my focus on things of God or the things of earth? Do I care more for the good will of man than the good will of God?
Christians might ask themselves daily:
Did I put God in His proper place yesterday? Was He put in the place of supreme authority over my life and possessions?
Did I keep God in His proper place today?
Will I keep God in His proper place tomorrow?
It is easy to give lip service to God, call Him ‘Lord of my life’, and speak as though you keep Him in His proper place and position. It is somewhat harder to actually do it.
Do you have a picture of that new home, vehicle, body size, promotion, business success, or earthly recognition foremost in your mind?
Or is the vision at the front of your mind of a place called heaven – and a city with gates made of pearl? If you keep your vision on heaven, it is going to be much easier to keep God in His proper and rightful place.
‘Pearly White City’
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/p/w/pwhitcit.htm
There’s a holy and beautiful city
Whose Builder and Ruler is God;
John saw it descending from Heaven,
When Patmos, in exile, he trod;
Its high, massive wall is of jasper,
The city itself is pure gold;
And when my frail tent here is folded,
Mine eyes shall its glory behold.
Refrain
In that bright city, pearly white city,
I have a mansion, a harp, and a crown;
Now I am watching, waiting, and longing,
For the white city that’s soon coming down.
No sin is allowed in that city
And nothing defiling or mean;
No pain and no sickness can enter,
No crepe on the doorknob is seen;
Earth’s sorrows and cares are forgotten,
No tempter is there to annoy;
No parting words ever are spoken,
There’s nothing to hurt or destroy.
Refrain
No heartaches are known in that city,
No tears ever moisten the eyes;
There’s no disappointment in Heaven,
No envy and strife in the sky;
The saints are all sanctified wholly,
They live in sweet harmony there;
My heart is now set on that city,
And some day its blessings I’ll share.
Refrain
My loved ones are gathering yonder,
My friends too are passing away,
And soon I shall join their bright number,
And dwell in eternity’s day;
They’re safe now in glory with Jesus,
Their trials and battles are past.
They overcame sin and the tempter,
They’ve reached that fair city at last.
Refrain
Barbara Henderson
Books by Barbara Henderson
http://amazon.com/author/barbarahenderson
Oh Worship the King
The Broad Way
Christian Encouragement and Self-help 2012
Who is God and what is His proper place?
What should His proper and rightful position be in the scheme of things?
How relevant is He to me personally?
Now that I’m a Christian and I have Jesus in my heart, where else is He supposed to be?
And, how important is it that I get Him put in the right place?
A few answers are:
He is:
Omnipotent - Almighty, All-powerful, Supreme
Omnipresent – Universally ever present
Omniscient – All knowing
Creator of everything
Purveyor of salvation through Jesus Christ
Master of all.
Seeing as God, the God of the Bible, is all of these things and more, in what position should His children place Him? More importantly, more personally, what position does God hold in the life of the individual Christian. In what place have you put Him in your life?
God Himself has instructed us to have ‘No other gods before Me’. Christians should put God in His proper place. His place is above all others – including ourselves. God’s will and plan is supposed to be above our own plans and will.
God is our Father. He is the Father of all humankind in that He is the creator of all people. Unfortunately, mankind is separated from God by the fall from grace that occurred in the garden east of Eden.
Fortunately, God in his mercy, made a way for mankind to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
Christians should put God in His place as our Heavenly Father by adoption. That is His proper place. As our Father, He is in a position of authority over His children. His proper place is a place of honor. This honor to God is demonstrated by obedience to Him..
We should view our Father as loving us more than we can comprehend, for He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life. Above all earthly parents, God is still like earthly parents. He loves His children. He wants good things for them. Unlike earthly parents, He knows exactly what is good for His children, and what is harmful to His children. Therefore, Christians should place God in a place of supreme trust. He is worthy. He will not let us down.
Our Father is also in a place of approachability. He has time for the individual Christian. He is never too busy for fellowship with one of His children. However, respect and awe of who He is is not to be set aside as we approach Him. Some people approach God with a sense that they are approaching an elderly man who will be easily swayed in His judgments. Perhaps some even believe they are able to manipulate God through some sort of cuteness, or pertness, or ritual, or some other such silliness. In approaching God, it must be with a constant awareness of His place as the Righteous Judge as well as the loving and merciful Father.
Within the boundaries of reverence and awe, we can approach Him boldly and expectantly.
Our God is the God of resources. He has what we need, and is willing to give it to us according to His purpose and His timeframe. It is highly likely that we do not need exactly the things for which we ask; or, the things we want; or the things we think we need. Never the less, God Almighty has the resources to fill our needs. Christians should put God in the place of the ultimate supplier.
To know the things the Lord says to do, and then to actually incorporate His teachings into our daily lives is to acknowledge Him as Lord, and glorify His name. God’s place is in charge of the life of each one of His children. When God is acknowledged as being the leader then a Christian can expect to be directed in the right paths.
Proverbs 3:6
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Proverbs 3:5-7 (in Context) Proverbs 3 (Whole Chapter)
God has given His children a model prayer, also called ‘The Disciples Prayer’, and ‘The Lord’s Prayer’. This prayer directs Christians not only in how to pray, but also in how to put God in His proper place.
Our Father who art in heaven – puts God in the position of our Father and in the place of heaven.
Hallowed be thy name – acknowledges God’s holiness – and puts Him in His proper place as the Holy One.
Thy kingdom come – is putting God in His place as the ruler of the coming kingdom.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven – is praying for good and right according to God –
Examples of God’s will are:
That we love Him
That we love our families
That we do the things He tells us to do
That we remember Him at all times
That we cry out against evil and wrong and sorrow and hurt – the things that are not of
God – and plead with Him for His will to be done instead. For instance – abortion is murder. We can pray ‘thy will be done’ regarding abortion because we know that God’s will does not include killing preborn children.
That the things of God concern us more than the things of self – God’s things before our own – and let our own wants change to be in harmony with God’s wants-will
That we persist in prayer
That we not accept the world the way it is – but pray for the will of God to be done instead. Instead of corruption – righteousness, instead of hunger around the world – food for all, instead of thieving – honesty……..
Give us this day our daily bread – is putting God His place as our provider. As we need, God will provide.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil – is putting God in His place as our protector.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever – is putting God in His place as the supreme authority over all creation. Rather, I suppose, it is acknowledging His place or position as such.
Christians should be continually seeking to put and keep God in authority over every aspect of their lives.
A checkup regarding God’s place in the life of an individual Christian can be made by asking, ‘What is my vision of my stuff?’
Is my treasure in heaven or on earth? Am I laying up more earthly treasure than heavenly treasure?
Do I serve God or mammon? Is my main focus on material things and how to get and keep them, or more on God and the things He asks of me?
Is my focus on things of God or the things of earth? Do I care more for the good will of man than the good will of God?
Christians might ask themselves daily:
Did I put God in His proper place yesterday? Was He put in the place of supreme authority over my life and possessions?
Did I keep God in His proper place today?
Will I keep God in His proper place tomorrow?
It is easy to give lip service to God, call Him ‘Lord of my life’, and speak as though you keep Him in His proper place and position. It is somewhat harder to actually do it.
Do you have a picture of that new home, vehicle, body size, promotion, business success, or earthly recognition foremost in your mind?
Or is the vision at the front of your mind of a place called heaven – and a city with gates made of pearl? If you keep your vision on heaven, it is going to be much easier to keep God in His proper and rightful place.
‘Pearly White City’
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/p/w/pwhitcit.htm
There’s a holy and beautiful city
Whose Builder and Ruler is God;
John saw it descending from Heaven,
When Patmos, in exile, he trod;
Its high, massive wall is of jasper,
The city itself is pure gold;
And when my frail tent here is folded,
Mine eyes shall its glory behold.
Refrain
In that bright city, pearly white city,
I have a mansion, a harp, and a crown;
Now I am watching, waiting, and longing,
For the white city that’s soon coming down.
No sin is allowed in that city
And nothing defiling or mean;
No pain and no sickness can enter,
No crepe on the doorknob is seen;
Earth’s sorrows and cares are forgotten,
No tempter is there to annoy;
No parting words ever are spoken,
There’s nothing to hurt or destroy.
Refrain
No heartaches are known in that city,
No tears ever moisten the eyes;
There’s no disappointment in Heaven,
No envy and strife in the sky;
The saints are all sanctified wholly,
They live in sweet harmony there;
My heart is now set on that city,
And some day its blessings I’ll share.
Refrain
My loved ones are gathering yonder,
My friends too are passing away,
And soon I shall join their bright number,
And dwell in eternity’s day;
They’re safe now in glory with Jesus,
Their trials and battles are past.
They overcame sin and the tempter,
They’ve reached that fair city at last.
Refrain
Barbara Henderson
Books by Barbara Henderson
http://amazon.com/author/barbarahenderson
Oh Worship the King
The Broad Way
Christian Encouragement and Self-help 2012
