Partiality
Partiality is a prominent human trait. When we speak of someone, we use words like “they’re pretty nice” or “they’re reasonably intelligent” or “they’re only a little bit loving”. But this partiality is very ungodly. It is the trait of an imperfect being. For if someone were perfect, they would be completely loving, they would be completely just, completely righteous, completely holy, completely good.
This is a Godly description. It describes God as he is ALL perfect with no partial traits. For all of his traits inhabit him completely and fully. They are his whole deity. If God were not all-loving, or all-holy, etc., he would not be worthy to be Lord over anyone. However, he is.
John 4:8
“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
God is completely loving, not partially.
Deuteronomy 32:4
“The Rock, his work is perfect,
For all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
just and upright is he.”
God is completely perfect, faithful and just.
Psalm 33:5
“He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.”
God is completely righteous and just.
Mark 10:18
And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”
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God is completely good.
Psalm 100:5
“For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.”
God is completely good, loving and faithful.
No one can claim God is not a god of fullness, for none of us can even compare. We are partial beings, sick with sin. The most holy person on Earth is still partial. Whomever that is, they still fall to sin and are only partially loving, holy, good, etc.
So when we describe God, why do we speak of the love he gives us separately from the justice he carries out upon others? Why do we separate the Old Testament “version” of God from the New? He is the same God. He has not changed. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.” If Jesus is the physical manifestation of God, then how can we differentiate God from any other “past version” of him? Time is not a factor of change for our God — we assume that it is.
We must be careful with how we describe him. Words from a human can never fully describe the vastness and complexity of God’s character.
He is the full trinitarian deity, completely whole in all traits that make up who we call Father, Shepherd, Spirit, Saviour, Redeemer, God and Lord. Do not box him in, as it will only box in your faith’s growth potential. And just because you cannot comprehend that fullness, it does not mean it cannot be true. Can you comprehend how God created us? Can you comprehend where our consciousness comes from? Can you comprehend how a black hole works, or how time moves forward? No, we are far too small for even that, so how can we expect to understand our creator fully, a being larger and far more complex than all of his creation?
He is present in his fullness of love, faithfulness, goodness, perfection, and so much more. I can describe with many words, but because no one can fully fathom, he is therefore completely indescribable. Who do we think we are to attempt such a thing, to attempt to describe such a God?
Prayer:
Lord,
I thank you for who you are. I thank you for the wholeness of your character. It makes me feel secure, knowing that you are reliable in who you are and not rash with your actions. Father, help me to understand as much as possible, yet also help me to be content with what I do not understand. I can never grasp you fully, not until I can kneel before you in the perfect realm of Heaven.
Help me to slowly purge my partiality. Help me to become like you, fuller in the traits you have. What an indescribable God you are. That is a blessing in itself, though, for I will never completely understand you, and in doing so, I will never need any other source of knowledge. You are all I need, for you fulfil me completely, wholly and fully, more than all else.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
