God Is Personal
Open Your Bible
Exodus 34:29-35, 2 Corinthians 3:7-18, John 14:15-21, Hebrews 1:1-4
BY She Reads Truth
God is a triune personal being who enters into a covenant relationship with His people, both individually and corporately.
Our finite, human minds will never truly understand the vastness of God’s glory, nor the fullness of His character. When we consider His infinite greatness, it can be difficult to remember that while He is incomprehensibly grand, He is also personal and relational. He is Immanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).
We see this in Exodus 34, when God met with Moses on Mount Sinai. Moses came down from the mountain and found he had to conceal his face with a veil in order to speak with the Israelites. He “did not realize that the skin of his face shone” (v.29) after talking with God—that it was reflecting the radiance of God’s glory and frightening his fellow Israelites. And so, whenever Moses met with God, he would remove the veil, but then put it back on when speaking with God’s people.
In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul writes that the sacrifice of Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit have changed the nature of our relationship with God. We can now gaze upon the glory of God with unveiled faces, just as if we were staring into a mirror (v.18). While Moses was the mediator between God and His people, we now have Christ, the “radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3) as our Mediator. Because of Christ, we can enter into relationship with God both corporately as His Church and as individuals. Even more, we have received a Counselor, the Holy Spirit, to remain with us at all times.
Our relationship with God is rooted in His glory and expressed in His immanence. God is present with us, deeply invested and active in each of our lives. He is a personal God. He relates to us, loves us, and cherishes us. Rather than being distant, inaccessible and detached, He has drawn near to us so that we might draw near to Him. By grace, He dwells among us, and by that same grace, He invites us into His presence.
40 thoughts on "God Is Personal"
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Such a comfort to me in this day. My husband and I are weighing a major move, away from all friends, family, current jobs, away from a really blessed life. I have struggled to feel like my fears are understood and really heard but this pointed my gaze upward once again. Jesus knows. He knows my heart personally, he understands my fears because he knows the amazing life and community He provided to us to start. He’s so personally invested in every turn of my life. I know that will not change if we go. But my heart needed this. I love being reminded that I am known but more so I am known by the Almighty One.
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what a wonderful, beautiful cohesiveness to this concept of God’s radiance and glory! God’s word is perfect and I love that I just keep finding new things within, that it’s just overflowing with abundant treasure!! the Lord is so good
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I read this piece of writing fully about the comparison of most recent and earlier technologies, it’s awesome article.
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“But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. … And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:16-18). God gives the faith to believe. He opens the eyes of the blind and gives life to hard hearts. As we continue to behold Him we are changed into His likeness. The more I gaze at Him in faith, the more I am changed to be like Him
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It’s hard for me to fathom how I matter to God, no matter how much I read about it. I feel so insignificant, yet I know I am His, that He created me, that He is invested in my life. I pray daily for Him to use me according to His plan, not my own. I want others to know Him through me. I want to be a faithful servant.
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Amen to your prayer Stephanie!
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