Week One - Believe Devotional -- God

Weekly Preparation for Believe

TIM MCKEOWN·MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 201611 Reads

As FBC Killeen prepares for BELIEVE, which begins Sept. 11, I thought it would be good to have devotionals to prepare our hearts. BELIEVE is a way of understanding our core, basic beliefs, actions, and virtues we should have as Christians, but it is certainly not shallow! In fact, today’s devotional is as deep as it gets: “Who Is God?”

What I find interesting in BELIEVE is that what we believe should transform us intellectually, behaviorally, and spiritually. That is our core essence that we have, a type of Trinity so to speak, consisting of our Soul, our Body, Our Spirit.
 Our intellect, along with our will and emotions, is our soul. This is how we think, which is Part 1 of BELIEVE, answering the question, “What do I believe?” 
Our behavior is how we act, which is our body and this is covered by Part 2 of BELIEVE, answering the question, “How should I behave?” 

     And our spiritual transformation (Part 3 of BELIEVE) is our Spiritual self, distinct and separate from our soul and body, and yet intrinsic to our entire personhood. This answers the question, “Who am I Becoming?” BELIEVE is a trinity study of ourselves: Believing, Behaving, Becoming. In other words, we need to Think, Act and Be like Jesus. We are made in the image of God who is also a Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
     As I said at the beginning, BELIEVE is not shallow at all...Enjoy these devotionals which come from Zondervan.

Day 1: God

KEY QUESTION: Who is God? What do we know about this amazing God, this God of miracles and creative wonder? Christians believe God is actually three Persons, a "Trinity." Though the word "Trinity" isn’t found in the Bible, in the very beginning of God's story, the creation story, we see hints that God is plural. Genesis 1:26 says, "Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.'" The creation story tells us we were created in the image of God, and Adam and Eve were two distinct persons who came together as one, just as God is three persons [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] but one true God. The journey of faith begins with our belief in God. Like the early Christians, we too are called to make our own personal declaration. 
Do we believe in the one true God? 
Do we accept the Bible as it reveals that God exists in three Persons? 
Even though we are weak and not fully able to understand the mysteries of God, he works mightily in and through those who believe. When we embrace God with our whole heart and worship him with our whole life, we experience the inner fruit of the Spirit that transforms our lives from the inside out. When we are growing, experiencing restoration in our relationships and doing the right thing, it is evident that God is in us and with us.

KEY VERSE May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14)

KEY IDEA I believe the God of the Bible is the only true God — Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

KEY APPLICATION: What difference does this make in the way I live? Because I was created in the image of God as, and for, community...

·  I recognize the full personhood of others and respect boundaries.

·  I look out for the rights, preferences, and comfort of others.

·  I value and enjoy others.

For any situation, relationship, or decision we face, we can resolutely apply these principles to guide us. The results, over time, will lead to blessing in our own souls in the form of fruit such as joy and peace, and we will express our actions outwardly for others to enjoy in the form of fruit such as love and kindness.

YOUR TURN

What's one way you have experienced God as Father? As Jesus the Son? As the Holy Spirit? Join the discussion today and use the hashtag #BelieveTheStory.