As God

These words have been highlighted in my life for the last several weeks...and I wonder, do we "glorify Him AS GOD, nor thank him"? (caps added Romans 1:21 Complete Jewish Bible) We often mention being grateful or thankful, but in that are we really glorifying Him...As God, or can the propensity still be to treat Him as an idol, a baal, prehaps something He is not As God, or do we know Him as Ishi? In John 3:2 Nicodemus did not recognize Jesus as Ishi, but only as a "teacher", though one sent from God. Here's the text: "Rabbi, we know it is from God that you have come AS A TEACHER; for no one can do these miracles you perform unless God is with him." (caps added, CJB) We don't hear these terms, so let me share the scripture with you. Hosea 2:18, "On that day," says Adonai "you will call me Ishi [My Husband]; you will no longer call me Ba'ali [My Master]". (CJB) Alot could be said and discussed right here. Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh or the mastery made man. In Him are both, but He invites us to know Him personally...as His Bride with Him as our Groom. Looking up the meaning of Baali, I found this: "Baali[N][H][S] my lord, a title the prophet ( Hosea 2:16 ) reproaches the Jewish church for applying to Jehovah, instead of the more endearing title Ishi, meaning "my husband."" (https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/baali/) I can't even imagine turning God into an idol formed by mans hands...by artists, or by reducing Him to words alone, unless I did not know Him "As God", not only as my Master, but as my Husband and thereby "As God" and realize that Jesus was Emmanuel (God with us). In a conversation between Jesus and Philip in John 14:8-9, "Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it will be enough for us." Yeshua replied to him, "Have I been with you so long without your knowing me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Philip knew God as Master, but not as Husband. In other intimacy was not realized. Yeshua (Jesus) said, "Have I been with you so long" (God with us), "without your KNOWING me," (put your name here). Notice something in the next verse. "Whoever has SEEN"..."me"..."has SEEN the Father".

Is there a difference between knowing God as Master and knowing Him as Husband? Absolutely. You may "see" pictures of a ruler, a master of his house, or his kingdom. You may watch video's of him/her/them. You may even read The Book about them and others written about them. However, when you are betrothed as Hosea 2:22 says (CJB) you are engaged to be, and of a certainty have become His Bride and know each other intimately. Only THEN can you, can anyone know Him...AS GOD. Look at the several times in the Bible when people assumed a relationship with God, but did not glorify Him...AS GOD. Jezebel, the wicked queen had stopped being a bride and become a ruler, even of her "husband". Yet, Ishi invited her to repent, but she refused. Job, the one God called "blameless" knew God from His works, perhaps and probably reading, even perhaps writing he did. However, it wasn't until Job SAW God did he understand God is both Master and Husband. It wasn't until Paul SAW Jesus on the road to Damascus that Paul began to glorify Him...AS GOD. John the beloved KNEW Jesus intimately. He layed his head on Christ's breast and they walked...together. Yet, even then John knew there was more to come, hence the serving and devotion. However, when John "heard" the voice that was speaking to him, there was no change in John's conversation or position. It was WHEN JOHN TURNED...to SEE the voice speaking with him, and it was Ishi, did John's position automatically change to perhaps the same when Jesus appears again. The time when EVERY knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. At THAT time, those who know Him only as Master will be treated as such, but those who knew Him as Ishi shall be treated as His Bride.

You get to choose. Hosea 2:21-25 "I will betroth you to me forever; yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, in justice, in grace and in compassion; I will betroth you to me in faithfulness, and you will know Adonai. When that day comes, I will answer," says Adonai "I will answer the sky, and it will answer the earth; the earth will answer the corn, wine and oil, and they will answer Yizre'el [God will sow]. I will sow her for me in the land. I will have pity on Lo-Ruchamah [Unpitied]; I will say to Lo-'Ammi [Not My People], 'You are my people'; and hey will, 'You are my God.'" (CJB)

And just to let you know, one of the definitions of repentance is...to pity, hence without repentance (no pity). Jezebel chose to refuse to repent (Revelation 2:21), Job chose to repent because he remained repentant (Job 42:1-6). It was at the point of SEEING GOD they either "refused" or immediately...repented and He is known as Master or as Ishi. Either way...when they SAW GOD...the choice was theirs. What will yours be? Will you chose to repent, or chose to refuse...to become the Bride of Christ. By the way, there is no "queen" of or in heaven. Job 33:24, "then [God] is gracious to him and says, 'Redeem him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom.' (CJB) Jesus Christ was that ransom. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed." (CJB)

In the venacular: For God so loved everyone, that He gave His only and unique Son as a ransom, so that everyone who trusts Him as Ishi and becomes His Bride may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed because they chose to refuse such a great salvation and repent to LOOK upon God so you may "glorify Him, AS GOD".

As always, I look forward to hearing from you and encourage you with these words: Love is the answer, Repentance is the call. Let us return the call of repentance and the action(s) of love. Blessings.