When my church compiled their Advent book in 2009, I picked “I” as the letter that I wanted to do my devotional thought on. Now, it would be easy to just pull up the entry that I submitted and make this day a very easy one for me, but the topic from four years ago really doesn’t flow with the threads of thought that I’ve woven so far and certainly not as seamlessly as what follows will. That being said, if anyone is interested in what “I” was for in 2009, post a comment about it and I’ll give you a bonus “I” post.
Have you ever made a new friend and then discovered later that everything they told you about themselves was a lie? There’s a feeling of being played that overtakes you and it quickly dampens if not halts the friendship. Aren’t we fortunate then that someone wants a relationship with us who can’t lie or go back on His word? Remember my entry for “D”. The two attributes that define Him are faithful and true.
God has made a lot of statements about Himself in the Bible that are a good place to start with getting to know Him. I’m just going to list them off with some scripture references in three categories: Old testament, John, and Revelation 1 (Note, I’ve mentioned Revelation 1 several times already and will go into more detail on it tomorrow in “J is for Jesus”, so I won’t spend much time on the last part.
“I am …” statements in the Old Testament
Shield and exceedingly great reward- Gen 15:1
Almighty God (Él-> the supreme) – Gen 17:1
“…That I AM” (Self-existent or eternal) – Ex 3:14
LORD (YHWH)(See above) – Ex 6:2
A jealous God (in relation to having other gods) – Ex 20:5
Gracious- Ex 22:27
The Lord who sanctifies- Ex 31:13
Holy (remember yesterday) – Lev 11:44
Savior and redeemer (kinsman redeemer)- Isa 49:26 (Lev 25:47-55)
First and Last- Isa 48:12; Rev 1:11
“I am…” statements in John, which are often metaphorical teachings surrounding a miracle Jesus performs
6:48-> Bread of Life
8:12-> Light of the World
8:58-> God (I AM is referencing His self-existence)
10:7-11-> Door of the sheep; Good Shepherd
11:25-> Resurrection and the Life
14:6-> the Way, the Truth, and the Life
15:1-> Vine
Revelation 1: 8-> “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
1:11-> “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,”
1:18-> “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”