MISTAKEN IDENTITY

In 2006, a horrible head-on collision claimed the lives of 5 young people. When the paramedics arrived on the scene, Wendy's purse was found lying next to Linda's broken body. In the chaos that followed, everyone assumed that Linda was actually Wendy! For the next 5 weeks, no one realized the truth! Even Linda's family believed that their daughter was dead. But it was an amazing example of mistaken identity. 

God understands what the families of those 2 girls were going through. For centuries, He's been a victim of that too. The devil has fooled millions into thinking that either God isn't real or He's someone you can't trust. How can we really know Him?

Can you find out what God is really like? 
"I will give them a heart to _____ Me, that I am the Lord, and they shall be My people, and I will be their God" (Jeremiah 24:7).
God is eager for you to know Him, but we can't love someone we know little about.

Where can you go to find God? 
"Since the creation of the world His [God's] invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things He has _____, even His eternal power and Godhead" (Romans 1:20)
"The earth is full of the _____ of the Lord" (Psalm 33:5).

"The lovely birds making the air vocal with their happy songs, the delicately tinted flowers perfuming the air, the lofty trees of the forest with their rich foliage of living green--all testify to the tender, fatherly care of our God and His desire to make His children happy" (Steps to Christ, pg. 9).

What does the Bible tell us about God?
"Hear O Israel, the Lord our God: the Lord is _____" (Deuteronomy 6:4)
"The grace of our Lord _____ Christ, and the love of the _____, and the communion of the Holy _____ be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14).

The Bible doesn't prove that God exists. It proclaims Him! Every Bible writer had confidence that God was with us. And unlike all the countries around them, they believed in only one God--a Triune Godhead--consisting of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each One is a distinct Person with identical thoughts, feelings, and actions. And each One loves you with an unconditional love!

How does God work together in loving you?
"For God so loved the world that He _____ His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
"Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called _____ of God" (1 John 3:1).
"But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ _____ for us" (Romans 5:8).
"It is the Spirit who gives _____" (John 6:63).

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together to draw you into the family of God. Each One has a specific role in God's plan of salvation, but each loves you with the same love and devotion. Jesus took your place on the cross. The Father draws you to unite your life to Theirs through that sacrifice (see 2 Corinthians 5:19). And as we reach out to accept the gift of salvation, the Holy Spirit gives us new life. He gives us our Father's heart.

What does God want you to know about Him?
"The eternal God is your _____ and underneath are His everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27).
"In Your hand is _____ and might; in Your hand it is to make great  and to give strength to all" (1 Chronicles 29:12).
"O Lord, You have searched me and _____ me...You understand my thoughts afar off and are acquainted with all my ways" (Psalm 139:1-3).
"The Lord is _____ and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy" (Psalm 103:8).
"No one is _____ like the Lord, for there is none besides You, nor is there any Rock like our God" (1 Samuel 2:2).

This is just a small peek into the face of God. He is a holy God, who will never do anything wrong. He is all knowing and all powerful. But most of all, He is a God of love and mercy. You can turn to Him in any crisis, knowing that He'll be there for you, with exactly what you need. And no matter how many times, you may mess up, He is always there with open arms, ready to welcome you back home! 

Where can you find the best picture of what God is like?
"In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son...who being the brightness of His glory and the express _____ of His Person" (Hebrews 1:2,3).
"Jesus said to him,..."He who has seen _____ has seen the Father."

Jesus is the answer to the case of God's Mistaken Identity. Through the centuries the image of God has been distorted by Satan. And though the prophets have described Him again and again, it wasn't enough to remove the distortion. So Jesus came to earth to solve the mystery. He came to demonstrate the incredible love of God--found in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. As you read the gospels, you will come face to face with God. You will see that God loves you with an everlasting love that will never let you go (see Jeremiah 31:3).

An excerpt from Bible #4 Guide in "The Living Way" Bible Course. For a complete, full-color copy of your own, please send $1 to Living Way Ministries at our home address. 

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