"The display of unmitigated power, power that is almighty and invincible, was Christ dying on a cross." Mark, was it the power of God which Scripture says was displayed on the Cross, or was it the love of God? Power would not have required the Incarnation. Please consider the insight of St. Paul in his letter to the church in Roman (5:8). Thank you.
Henry, that's great point about the cross being a display of love. Thanks for pointing that out. Indeed, all of God's acts are done in love, and so with his displays of power. But of course, the Cross is also mighty, as in 1 Cor. 1:8. Thanks again.
Even as Jesus affirmed, "... no one comes to the Father, but through me" (John 14), no comes to know -- to have any cognitive apprehension -- of the Almighty and His power but through Jesus Christ, the Risen Son of God. Indeed, God the Father demonstrated His Almighty power for us. He did it by the revelation of His very ontological nature, love. "God demonstrates His own love ... in that ... Christ died for us" (Romans 8). No one can even pretend to speak of the Almighty power of God except at the Cross, before the Empty Tomb, and turned toward the Coming, the Glorious Throne (Mathew 25). How now, that Almighty "surpassing power"? Where, now? "... the surpassing greatness of His power [is] toward us who believe ,,, in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead ..." (Ephesians 1:19-20). Why? That each of us would be enabled day by day to obey "the first and great commandment" that "you shall love the Lord your God with all ...", and "the second" that "you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22) -- and thereby to bring glory to God 'who so loved the world" at the Cross, the Cave, and the soon Coming. Not speculative Almighty power. But objective Almighty power subjectively joined at the Cross. That is the unique reality and pointed power of Christianity. Everything else is bound to be idolatry.
Thank you again for a good reminder of the way God works, and how we should work! You have made it clear that God does not rely on raw power, but uses the power of love. Much appreciated.
- Shaddai may have also come from shad שד meaning mammary; shaddai is a typical Biblical Hebrew word (שדי). The plural (Shaddayim -- שדיים) is the typical Modern Hebrew word for human breasts in dual grammatical number.[4] The Deir Alla Inscription contains shaddayin as well as elohin rather than elohim. Scholars[5] translate this as "shadday-gods," taken to mean unspecified fertility, mountain or wilderness gods.
Making the meaning of verses like Genesis 35:11 where God says to Jacob, "I am El Shaddai: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins," make more sense.
I am much encouraged and challenged by your musings about our Lord God and His purposes in our lives and the world. The ‘quiet left-hand’ of God at work in our personal lives, in the lives of every person we interact & live with, and the world of 8 Billion humans alive today is the quiet but powerful change. For people to move from living totally sinful lives to ones of humbling ourselves to walk with our Lord in the Holy Spirit. This work of God is not the focus world of social media, nor of the big business media.
Oh God, help me to aim for treasures you will remind me of in Heaven when I leave this world by violence, broken health, or peacefully. Let me forget now everything I think should be celebrated that makes me and life here a flash of glory & pride. Thanks for continuing to challenge me to focus on submitting to Jesus.
"The display of unmitigated power, power that is almighty and invincible, was Christ dying on a cross." Mark, was it the power of God which Scripture says was displayed on the Cross, or was it the love of God? Power would not have required the Incarnation. Please consider the insight of St. Paul in his letter to the church in Roman (5:8). Thank you.
Henry, that's great point about the cross being a display of love. Thanks for pointing that out. Indeed, all of God's acts are done in love, and so with his displays of power. But of course, the Cross is also mighty, as in 1 Cor. 1:8. Thanks again.
Even as Jesus affirmed, "... no one comes to the Father, but through me" (John 14), no comes to know -- to have any cognitive apprehension -- of the Almighty and His power but through Jesus Christ, the Risen Son of God. Indeed, God the Father demonstrated His Almighty power for us. He did it by the revelation of His very ontological nature, love. "God demonstrates His own love ... in that ... Christ died for us" (Romans 8). No one can even pretend to speak of the Almighty power of God except at the Cross, before the Empty Tomb, and turned toward the Coming, the Glorious Throne (Mathew 25). How now, that Almighty "surpassing power"? Where, now? "... the surpassing greatness of His power [is] toward us who believe ,,, in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead ..." (Ephesians 1:19-20). Why? That each of us would be enabled day by day to obey "the first and great commandment" that "you shall love the Lord your God with all ...", and "the second" that "you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22) -- and thereby to bring glory to God 'who so loved the world" at the Cross, the Cave, and the soon Coming. Not speculative Almighty power. But objective Almighty power subjectively joined at the Cross. That is the unique reality and pointed power of Christianity. Everything else is bound to be idolatry.
Thank you again for a good reminder of the way God works, and how we should work! You have made it clear that God does not rely on raw power, but uses the power of love. Much appreciated.
David Hermann
Clearly explains the power of God and offers new perspectives to see how the scripture works. Thank you for giving insight to take with me.
From the Wikipedia article on the meaning of "Shaddai" (normally translated "Almighty"):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Shaddai#:~:text=of%20its%20sides.-,Biblical%20translations,%22the%20God%20of%20heaven%22.
- Shaddai may have also come from shad שד meaning mammary; shaddai is a typical Biblical Hebrew word (שדי). The plural (Shaddayim -- שדיים) is the typical Modern Hebrew word for human breasts in dual grammatical number.[4] The Deir Alla Inscription contains shaddayin as well as elohin rather than elohim. Scholars[5] translate this as "shadday-gods," taken to mean unspecified fertility, mountain or wilderness gods.
Making the meaning of verses like Genesis 35:11 where God says to Jacob, "I am El Shaddai: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins," make more sense.
I am much encouraged and challenged by your musings about our Lord God and His purposes in our lives and the world. The ‘quiet left-hand’ of God at work in our personal lives, in the lives of every person we interact & live with, and the world of 8 Billion humans alive today is the quiet but powerful change. For people to move from living totally sinful lives to ones of humbling ourselves to walk with our Lord in the Holy Spirit. This work of God is not the focus world of social media, nor of the big business media.
Oh God, help me to aim for treasures you will remind me of in Heaven when I leave this world by violence, broken health, or peacefully. Let me forget now everything I think should be celebrated that makes me and life here a flash of glory & pride. Thanks for continuing to challenge me to focus on submitting to Jesus.