The God of peace…glory…patience…hope…all comfort
“Brethren and fathers listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia before he dwelt in Haran” (Acts 7:2).
Over the past two days we have read about the work of sanctification by the God of peace (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). There are other verses which speak of the attributes of God. Let’s look at them in the order they appear in the New Testament:
In Acts 7:2 Stephen, the first martyr of the Church, addresses his people in defence of his witness and ministry. He said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran.” In the last verse of the previous chapter, Stephen’s face is described as like the face of an angel. Before he died, we are told he was full of the Holy Spirit and gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Stephen’s life was lived in the light of the God of glory in the Person of the Lord Jesus. He is a vivid illustration to us of the power that comes from living in the presence of God. His discipleship cost him his life, but his death lit a flame of witness which spread like a forest fire into Judea, Samaria and far beyond.
In Romans 15:5 we read, “Now may the God of patience (endurance) and comfort (encouragement) grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus.” To live the Christian life needs endurance and encouragement. Endurance is expressed by us personally, but its source is God. Encouragement comes to us through the word of God and the ministry of others. But the source is the same, the God of patience and comfort. In imparting these attributes, He creates within us an attitude of mind which unites us as the people of God.
Hope is a vital part of our Christian faith. It takes us beyond death and the limitations of this life into the fullness of the salvation we have in Christ. Paul writes in Romans 15, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (v. 13). Our hope comes from God, it is centred in Christ, it imparts joy and peace, and has a present effect upon the character and purpose of our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul begins his second letter to the Corinthians with a note of praise: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Then he writes about “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (1:3-4). When a mother cares for one of her children who has hurt themselves, she does two things. She deals with the problem (mercy) and embraces the child in her love (comfort). Comfort often comes before the treatment. God expresses His care for us in all the different troubles we face: “who comforts us in all our tribulation”. And He does this so that we, in turn, may be able to comfort others who are distressed. May the God of peace, glory, patience, comfort and hope fill our hearts, and flow through our lives today.
