Our relationship with God often changes depending on what is happening in our lives. This is no different from our relationships with our parents, siblings, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, and even how we react to strangers. How we see the world and how we relate to others tends to be influenced by our. As we grow, however, our encounters and relationships with God can become less fickle and less dependent on our feelings and circumstances.
Our concept of God has been shaped by what we have been taught about Him, our experience, and how we have seen those around us relate to Him. The Bible teaches us that God is unchanging, so it is our understanding of who He is that changes over time. As we read the bible and learn more about Him, and as our own experiences in life broaden, so too does our understanding of who He is. We may experience Him in different roles in our lives at different times. As we grow closer and closer to Him, we learn how He speaks to us and how to respond in different situations. He changes us. God also relates to us collectively as He did with the children of Israel, and we have seen in the Bible how He related to specific individuals. No two persons have the same walk with God. This is why your walk with God is a personal experience. We each have our unique way of relating to Him and He relates to us individually also. When you know who God is to you and truly accept Him, every area of your life will be impacted.
Seven ways in which we encounter Him in our lives:
1. Savior
A well-known example of God’s saving work is the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22. God tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice his only son Isaac on a mountain. Abraham obeyed God and prepared to offer Isaac, but God stopped him at the last moment and provided a ram as a substitute. God commended Abraham for his faith and promised to bless him and his descendants. This story foreshadows how God would later offer His own Son Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins on the cross.
The most important role that God plays in our lives is that of Savior. He saves us from our sins, from death, and the power of evil. He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for us and to rise again from the dead. This act paid our debt for sin in full. That was the ultimate act of love and grace. It shows us how much God values us and wants us to be with Him forever. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Another example of God’s saving grace was the conversion of Saul, who was a persecutor of Christians until he encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. Saul became Paul, one of the greatest apostles and missionaries of the early church (Acts 9:1-22). He was a changed man!
Many times, God has intervened in my life and saved me from many dangers and issues that I got myself into. Sometimes when I look back over my life and the things that He has delivered me from I cry thank you, Jesus. Has Jesus intervened in your life?
2. Judge
Another role that God plays in our lives is that of Judge. He judges us according to His holy and righteous standards. He knows everything about us, our thoughts, our actions, our motives, and our hearts. He rewards us for what is good and punishes us for what is evil. He does this not because He hates us or wants to harm us, but because He loves us and wants to correct us. Hebrews 12:6 says, “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
One of the most sobering examples of God’s judgment is the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. These two cities were full of wickedness and immorality, and God decided to destroy them with fire and brimstone. God spared the lives of Lot and his family. They were righteous in His sight so sent angels to escort them out of the city. Lot’s wife, however, disobeyed God’s command not to look back and was turned into a pillar of salt. This story warns us of the consequences of sin and the need for us to obey God’s commands.
Jesus warned that at the end of the age, He will separate the sheep from the goats, and send the righteous to eternal life and the wicked to eternal punishment (Matthew 25:31-46). Another example of God’s judgment is the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, which Jesus predicted as a sign of His coming and the end of the age (Matthew 24:1-35).
3. Loving and Caring Father
God is our loving and caring Father. He created us in His image and likeness. He knows us by name and cares for every detail of our lives. He provides for our needs, protects us from danger, guides us in His ways, comforts us in our sorrows, and rejoices with us in our joys. He is always with us and never leaves us nor forsakes us. Psalm 103:13 says, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”
One of the most touching examples of God’s fatherly love is the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. This parable tells of a younger son who asked for his inheritance from his father and squandered it in a distant country. He ended up in poverty and hunger and decided to return to his father and ask for forgiveness. His father, instead of rejecting or scolding him, welcomed him with open arms and threw a feast for him. His older brother, however, was jealous and angry and refused to join the celebration. The father then explained to him that he should rejoice because his brother was lost but now found. This story illustrates how God forgives us when we repent and restores us to His family.
I, too, have done many things not pleasing to Him, but through His fatherly love, He forgives me, corrects me, and tells me to get up my child. Keep going forward. What have you done that the Lord forgave you for because He loves you?
4. Provider
God is our provider. In Psalm 23 David described the Lord as his Shepherd and spoke with confidence that because of that fact, he would not want. God gives us everything we need for life and godliness. He supplies us with food, clothing, shelter, health, education, work, friends, family, and more. He also gives us spiritual blessings, such as forgiveness, peace, joy, hope, faith, love, wisdom, and more. He is the source of every good and perfect gift that we enjoy. Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
A miraculous example of God’s provision is the story of Elijah the prophet and the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17. During a severe famine in Israel, God sent Elijah to a widow in a foreign land who had only a handful of flour and a little oil left. Elijah told her to make him a cake first, and then make some for herself and her son. He promised her that God would not let her flour or oil run out until the famine was over. The widow trusted Elijah’s word and did as he said, and she and her household ate for many days from the same jar of flour and jug of oil. This story demonstrates how God rewards our faith and generosity with His abundance. How has Jesus provided for you?
5. Healer
God is also our healer. He heals us from our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wounds. He restores us to wholeness and well-being. He does this with his power and by his grace. He sometimes uses natural means, such as medicine or therapy, but he also sometimes performs miracles that defy human explanation. He heals us not only for our own benefit but also for His glory and for the sake of others who need to see His healing power at work in us. Psalm 147:3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
A dramatic example of God’s healing power is the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5. Naaman was a Syrian general who had leprosy, a skin disease that made him an outcast in society. He heard that there was a prophet in Israel who could heal him, so he went to see Elisha with gifts and letters from his king. Elisha told him to wash seven times in the Jordan River, but Naaman was offended by this simple instruction and refused to do it. His servants persuaded him to try it anyway, and when he did, his skin became clean like that of a young boy. Naaman then acknowledged that there was no god but the God of Israel and offered gifts to Elisha, but Elisha refused to accept them. This story shows how God heals us not by our merits or methods, but by His grace and word.
I have experienced His Healing touch. Usually, once a person contracts meningitis they do not get it a second time. I got meningitis as a child and survived with none of the usual ill effects. I contracted it again as an adult and miraculously survived, again with no ill effects. I was in the hospital unconscious for several days. When I regained consciousness, the nurses asked me if I was a Christian. When I told them I was, they exchanged knowing glances and said that must be the reason why I survived because my situation had been quite grim. I could have died, gone blind, suffered hearing loss, been paralyzed, or experienced any of the serious risks that others have suffered. I believe God kept me alive for a reason and I thank Him every day. To God be all the glory.
6. Protector and Defender
God is our protector and defender. He defends us from our enemies who seek to harm us or destroy us. He fights for us against the forces of darkness that oppose His kingdom and His will. He protects us from evil and sets us free from bondage. He shields us from harm and covers us with His wings. He is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 18:2 says, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.”
One of the most inspiring examples of God’s defense is the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. David was a young shepherd boy who volunteered to face Goliath, a giant Philistine warrior who defied the armies of Israel. David rejected Saul’s armor and weapons and chose instead to use his sling and five smooth stones from a brook. He trusted that God would deliver him from Goliath’s hand, as He had delivered him before from lions and bears. He ran toward Goliath and slung a stone at his forehead. It sank into his skull and killed him. David then cut off Goliath’s head with his own sword and brought it to Saul. This story proves how God can use the weak things of the world to confound the strong, and how He gives us victory over our foes.
God is the mighty and protective Defender who fights for us against our enemies and delivers us from evil. He also defends our cause and vindicates us from false accusations. One of the most inspiring examples of God’s defense is the deliverance of Peter from prison, where an angel freed him from his chains and led him out of jail while his enemies were baffled (Acts 12:1-19). Has He defended you in difficult situations and brought you out?
7. King of kings and Lord of lords
God is not only the Savior, Judge, Father, Provider, Healer, and Defender of His people but also the King of kings and Lord of lords. He reigns over all creation with justice and mercy and invites us to share in His kingdom and glory. The ultimate example of God’s kingship is the story of Jesus Christ, who is God in the flesh. Jesus came to earth as a humble servant, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, rose from the dead on the third day, ascended to heaven, and will come again to judge the living and the dead. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning, and the End, the First and the Last. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Experience God in These Roles as He Changes Your Life
These are just some of the stories that reveal who God is and what He does for us. Many other stories in the Bible demonstrate to us His amazing grace and love. I encourage you to read them and discover how God fulfills these roles in your life. You can also join a bible study group to learn more about Him. God loves us and wants to have a relationship with us. It is up to us to open our hearts to Him,, and allow him to direct our lives through His Holy Spirit.
We may think about the different parts of our lives as being separate, but there should be no difference in our attitudes and actions at church, school, work or just socializing with family or friends. God lives in us and through us. We should serve God and glorify Him in all areas of our lives including our thoughts, speech, and actions. You may not have experienced God in your life in some of the 7 roles discussed, but you may have encountered Him in others not listed.
If we want to please and worship Him, we should remember that He is not with us sometimes but all the time. He is always present, knows everything, and can do anything. He allows us to make choices, so it is up to us whether or not we allow Him to direct our daily lives as the King of kings and the Lord of lords, so we can experience Him as our Savior, Judge, Loving and caring Father, Provider, Healer, and Protector and Defender.