Devotions based on Scot McKnight’s book, One.Life

We may affirm and confess that God is love but have a much harder time embracing the God who is love… to really know He actually loves us.

Andrew Newberg, a neuroscientist, says we assign personalities to God that is neurologically based on our own personality. 1. The authoritarian god (32% of us). 2.The critical god (16%) 3.The distant god (24%) 4.The Benevolent God (23%). The authoritarian /critical gods activate the fear part of our brain, the limbic areas. So we have a god shaped by fear and judgment and authority. If we have the benevolent God which activates the prefrontal cortex than we have one shaped by love and peace and compassion. As Christians we see God as both holy and loving –God produces a both –sides- of –the-brain kingdom.  Our God will be with us and He is for us! He wants to make us into what God wants us to be.  In the parable of the prodigal son Jesus lets us know that God is waiting for us,  will accept us, and will throw a party in our honor when we tell the truth about ourselves, turn from our sins, and turn back to God.  He is our gracious Father who forgives us and welcomes us and has a seat waiting for us at the table in God’s family!