God Reveals Himself In Many Ways

"If we cooperate with Him in loving obedience, God will manifest Himself to us, and that manifestation will be the difference between a nominal Christian life and a life radiant with the light of His face."  - A.W. Tozer,  American Christian pastor and author (1897-1963)

What comes to mind when you think about the manifestation of God? You might hear someone mention it occasionally, but what is it, and how does it affect us? Honestly, it isn't a subject that gets a whole lot of attention.

Before all else, we should examine the terminology "manifestation of God." This describes the various ways in which God reveals Himself to us, including visibly, tangibly, and evidently (Psalm 19:1-4).

We see this occur many times throughout the Bible, whereby the manifestations of God are used to convey His divine nature, lead His people, and accomplish His redeeming purposes.

If we understand anything about God at all, we know that He is definitely not hidden. He reveals Himself through divine revelation, or in a general sense, the means by which He makes known His truth and knowledge.

This "unveiling" of Himself and His will sheds light on things that were hidden before. There are different ways through which this happens, including: divine inspiration, scripture, and even nature itself (Psalm 95:4-5).

The Bible draws our attention to four principal ways in which God manifests (reveals) Himself to mankind. They are:

• Creation/Nature: Everything that God has created in our world reveals who He is (Romans 1:19-20; Psalm 19:1-4; Job 26:8-9, 14).
• In our hearts and minds: That is, our conscience confirms God's existence. He instills his law on our hearts before we ever hear the Good News (Romans 2:14-15; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Acts 17:27).
• The Person of Jesus Christ: Most are familiar with this one. With the clearest understanding and most meticulous attention to detail, God has manifested Himself to us in the Person of Jesus Christ (John 1:14, 18; 14:9; Colossians 1:15.; Galatians 4:4-5; Hebrews 1:1-2).
• Through Scripture/the Word of God: One of the most exceptional ways for us to discover the person of Jesus is through the Bible (Luke 24:27, 44-45; John 5:39; 2 Peter 1:16-19).

It is crucial that we actively participate with God if we are to reap the full benefits of His manifestation in our lives. We must recognize and trust in His guidance and influence while demonstrating His character in everything we do.

What does this look like? For instance,

• We can recognize God's presence by becoming aware of His work in our lives. Even the simplest, most mundane moments can signify this. Thus, understand and be open to His direction in your life.
• Have belief and trust in God's promises and His capacity to work in your life. This, even if immediate results are not evident. Trust in His plans for you, and place your life in His hands.
• The best line of communication with God is through prayer. Ask for wisdom, guidance, and strength. In this way you may also thank Him for blessings, ask for specific needs, and seek a deeper relationship with Him.

Clearly, this barely begins to deal with the manifestation of God in our lives. The important conclusion from our discussion is that God manifests (reveals) Himself in many ways. 

These include creation, the Bible (His Word), and most importantly through His Son, Jesus Christ. These manifestations stress our special relation with God, who simply wants us to know and worship Him.

Scripture: Psalm 104:24-25; Isaiah 42:5; John 1:3; Romans 1:20; 1 Timothy 4:4

Prayer: "Dear Lord, thank you for your enduring presence in my life. Open my heart so that I may always see You at work during my day. And help me to seek your will and align my life with your purpose, Amen."

Blessings always,

Shelby