How Do You Perceive God?

What does the Bible say about who God is?

The Bible provides a profound understanding of who God is through both His attributes and His actions. According to Scripture, God is eternal, loving, omniscient, omnipotent, and sovereign.

In Exodus 3:14, God reveals His name to Moses: “I AM WHO I AM.” This statement emphasizes His eternal existence and self-sufficiency. In 1 John 4:8, we read that “God is love,” indicating that love is an essential aspect of His nature.

Furthermore, Psalm 139:1-4 highlights God’s omniscience: “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.” This illustrates His intimate knowledge of each person.

Additionally, in Genesis 1:1, we see His omnipotence and creativity: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This foundational verse tells us of His power and authority over all creation.

God is also described as a personal being who desires a relationship with humanity. In Jeremiah 29:13, it is written, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” This indicates that God invites us to seek Him earnestly.

But why does God invite us to seek him?  Because he cares, he loves us and wants a relationship with us. When we seek him, we start to really learn and understand who he is, what he desires from us, what he desires for us, and how he wants to partner with us in this life. It builds our trust in him, breaks down the walls of our hearts, and helps us to want to live a life that honors and pleases him.

Through these verses, we come to see God as a loving, personal, and powerful Creator who is deeply involved in the world and in the lives of individuals. His desire is for us to know Him and to be in a relationship with Him.

Now that we read some of the attributes of who God is, let’s look at a verse that has really been on my heart . 1 Peter 1: 17-23 NLT

17 And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” 18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.

21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.

22 You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.

23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

I really love this verse because it reveals who God is to us.

Verse 17 begins by saying, “Remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites.” There is no partiality in His kingdom. He judges and rewards with perfect justice. This reminds us that God is both loving Father and righteous Judge.

Then it continues, “So you must live in reverent fear of Him during your time here as temporary residents.” What is reverent fear? Why must we fear God?

Reverent fear is not a terror that God is waiting to condemn His children. Scripture is clear that those in Christ are not under condemnation. But neither is it casual familiarity. Reverent fear means we hold God in holy awe. We honor Him for who He is — Almighty, eternal, perfectly just, and yet merciful and compassionate.

God’s covenant love toward His people is steadfast and faithful. Because He loves us, we do not live in dread of rejection. But because He is holy, we do not live carelessly either. Reverent fear is loving respect, humble submission, and a deep awareness of His holiness. We revere Him because we love Him, and we do not want to drift from Him.

Why? Because verse 18 says He paid a ransom to save us. It was not paid with silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ — worth more than anything this world could offer. Verse 20 tells us this plan of redemption was established before the world began. This was not reaction. This was eternal purpose.

Verse 21 reminds us that through Christ we have come to trust in God. Our faith and hope rest in the finished work of the cross and the power of the resurrection.

Then verse 22 says, “You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth.” What does that mean?

Obeying the Truth signifies a transformative, active response to the Gospel, merging faith with action rather than just intellectual assent. We know God’s word is true so we by faith put into action what God has called us to do. Repent. Turn away. Deny yourself.

We are forgiven and cleansed by the blood, because God paid that price through Christ’s death on the cross once and for all. We do not add to His sacrifice, but because He gave His life for us, we are called to take up our cross daily and die to ourselves. By making the choice to surrender our will and choose Jesus each day, just as He chose us. Through His resurrection we are resurrected with Him to a new life.

23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

If these verses don’t sum up who God is, they certainly reveal His heart toward us. God’s Word is powerful.

So now, how do you perceive God? Who is God to you?

Every morning I ask God the same question: “God, why are You who You are? Why do You love and care about me so much? Why do I matter to You that You would do all this, even knowing I will fail, even knowing I cannot be faithful on my own, knowing not only what You have already saved me from but what You will continue to save me from?”

Because I’m a dad, I perceive God in a similar way. He is my Father — and not just any father, but Almighty God. He picks me up when I fall. He loves me with a steadfast love that is not based on my performance. He teaches me what I need to know to walk through this life faithfully. He is always there when I need to talk, cry, or share exciting news.

I give Him reverence because I love Him. I respect Him for who He is. And I submit myself to Him because I trust Him. My Father knows best.

I hope this helps shape how you perceive God. Maybe you see Him differently now and that will determine how you worship Him.