A Picture of God

[soso]

A Picture of God

Think God Doesn’t Love You? Jesus Tells Us Otherwise

By Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

출처 https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/a-picture-of-god/

듣기 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE-cMsAUM_0

Recently I was looking /at some pictures of my mom.

She passed away /at 104—a strong, wonderful woman.

Even in her nineties and past 100, what a looker she was.

But the pictures of her at eighteen, twenty—we’re talking [movie star looks].

I had forgotten [how pretty she was].

That’s what pictures do: they remind [us] /of how people look /when we’re away from them.

* talk something에서 something은 논의하는 대상을 의미함

As we walk /through life, it’s easy /sometimes /to forget who God is.

Even when we’re reading our Bibles and going to church,

[the trials of life]—difficulties, loss, pain, frustrated plans—can make [us] [ask], “Why did God let [this] [happen]?

What’s going on /in my life?”

We can forget the image of God.

Satan is always working /to distort that image,

coming as an angel of light and painting pictures of God //that make [us] [resentful].

Martin Luther, the great Reformer, even got /to a place //where he said, “I hated God. I saw Him /as an angry judge.”

So John 1:18 is an important verse: “No one has ever seen God,

but the one and only Son,

who is himself God and is in the closest relationship with the Father, has made [him] [known]”

(John 1:18, NIV; see also Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:13).

God sent Jesus /into the world /for a number of reasons.

There was work to be done on the cross, of course,

because God loved us /so much /that He didn’t want [us] [to pay the penalty for our sins].

So He sent [His Son] /as a substitute and an atoning sacrifice.

But there was more to it than that.

God is invisible, omnipresent, omniscient, all-powerful, and a spirit.

No one has ever seen or taken /in the totality of God

—how could [our little pea-brains] comprehend [who He is]?

But God wanted [us] [to know what He was like],

so He sent [His only Son], who is the exact image of the invisible God.

If we want [to know who God is], we just need [to look at Jesus].

What does [God] feel /about women?

Study Jesus.

What does God feel /about the poor?

Look at Jesus.

What does God feel /about sin?

Look at Jesus on the cross—sin must be very serious, because He had to die and shed His blood.

We learn [who God is] /by studying Jesus.

I grew up /in a church

//where people would take [isolated verses from the Old and New Testaments] /to present an image of God.

But their prejudices, meanness of spirit, or legalistic mindsets distorted [that image],

leaving me thinking, “That’s not so attractive.”

Sadly, Christians are sometimes the worst advertisement for God /because they don’t act like Christ.

But God is saying to us, “No, look at My Son, Jesus.”

Jesus said, “If you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father” (see John 14:9).

All the traits and characteristics of God can be seen /in Jesus Christ.

So what’s the purpose of this?

Well, when we remember that Jesus is the exact image of God,

we can have a leg up on the enemy and live with a lot more peace and joy.

We can wake up /every morning and be confident in God, relaxed, joyful, and full of faith.

* HAVE A LEG UP ON SOMEONE definition: 1. to have an advantage over someone 

So what do we know /about God /today?

First, God loves you and me.

“I don’t know, Jim Cymbala. You don’t know my life.”

I don’t know your life, but I know Jesus, and Jesus loved everyone.

He proved that /by dying on the cross, not for people //who were cheering /for Him,

but for people //who spit on Him, mocked Him, and rejected Him.

That’s the kind of love () Jesus had, and Jesus is the image of God.

“But I’ve failed God /so much.”

God loves us /despite our failures.

If Jesus died /for us /while we were yet sinners (see Romans 5:8),

how could God not love [us] /even more now that we’re part of His family?

Some of us have been infiltrated /by lies:

“God’s against you. He’s mean. He just wants to whack you.”

How do we know () those are lies?

I’ll prove it: look at Jesus.

God loves every race, old and young, man and woman and child.

Jesus had no target group.

If we’re breathing, God loves us /today.

Second, whatever we’re facing /today, God wants [to help us].

How do we know that?

Because Jesus went about [doing good], healing and helping people.

* go about : to be actively and constantly engaged in, to start to do something, to tackle (a problem or task) 

Jesus never met anyone and said, “You again? Man, you’ve messed up so many times, Peter.

What’s up with you? Get out /of here. I’m picking a new disciple.”

No, we can study [the stories /about Jesus] and rejoice /in them.

God loves to take messes and leave a blessing.

He delights /in mercy.

“I’ve really messed up /as a Christian.

I should have known /better.”

But God delights /in mercy.

We know this /through Jesus’ invitation,

“Come unto me, everyone //who is heavy laden and burdened, and find rest” (Matthew 11:28).

God loves us.

Jesus is the image of the invisible God.

We can’t let [anybody] [take this or that verse and play us].

Let’s stay firm.

We know [who God is] /because Jesus is Lord and Savior.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You /for revealing Your heart of love and mercy to us through Your Son, Jesus.

Help [us] [not to be fooled by what the enemy claims about Your character] but instead [to anchor our hearts in Your truth].

Lead [us] [to walk daily in complete confidence], fully resting in Your grace and mercy.

If this encouraged you, you can receive Pastor Cymbala’s weekly blog post by email here.

For More Encouragement

• Listen to the full message by Pastor Jim Cymbala: “The Portrait of God (Jesus)”
• Enjoy other resources to help you draw closer to God: “Our Father, Loving and Powerful” and “The Lord Is Our Builder and Protector”
• Visit Pastor Cymbala’s Facebook page