By Staff Writer, Matt Osborne The 2023 NBA Draft took place on Thursday evening, with 58 young men realizing their dreams of hearing their names called from the platform. The obvious headline from yesterday’s event was the San Antonio Spurs selecting French phenom, Victor Wembanyama, with the first overall pick. Wembanyama has been labeled by some as the best professional basketball prospect in history, and his selection certainly sets the Spurs on a trajectory toward eventual contention. Although Wembanyama was the talk of last night’s festivities, the reality is that every team had an opportunity to change their fortunes with their selections. We have seen time and time again that teams can often find “diamonds in the rough” past the lottery selections, allowing them to secure the services of a player who might play a pivotal role in seasons ahead. But with the NBA Draft including only two rounds, it makes every pick that much more critical as teams hope to set themselves up for future success. Since selections are so limited, teams invest large sums of money to ensure they have fully scouted out a player’s attributes. Professional scouts want to obtain all the available information about a player so they're sure to make the best selection. This means that teams must do their homework and know as much about a player as they possibly can. They also get to know the player by spending time with him and listening to him speak. They'll even talk to others who are close to him in order to learn more about who he really is. By the end of the process, teams will typically know about a particular player’s basketball skill set, as well as, his physical attributes, his personality and character traits, and even many aspects of his personal life. This is all done to put the franchise in a position to succeed. As followers of Jesus, it's even more important that we understand the attributes of God so we'll be better equipped to live a life that brings Him glory. Knowing God and rightly understanding His character is ultimately what fuels us to grow in conformity to His likeness. The better we know who God is and what He's like, the better we'll reflect His character in our own lives. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) affirms this reality: “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” The Apostle Paul also wrote in Philippians 1:17 (NIV), “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.” Paul rightly understood that people’s ability to follow the Lord in an honoring way would be directly tied to how accurately they knew Him. For us, beholding the Lord to better know His character is not something that can be thoroughly done in passing. Rather, it requires us to spend intentional time meditating and contemplating upon God’s attributes. So here are just a few of the attributes of God for us to "scout" and consider today: OMNIPOTENT (ALL-POWERFUL) - "Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: 'I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by Myself'” (Isaiah 44:24; ESV). OMNISCIENT (ALL-WISE) - "Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure" (Psalm 147:5; ESV). SOVEREIGN - "Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases" (Psalm 115:3; ESV). ETERNAL - "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God" (Psalm 90:2; ESV). FAITHFUL - "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end" (Lamentations 3:22; ESV). LOVE - "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:8; ESV). JUSTICE - “The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He” (Deuteronomy 32:4; ESV). HOLINESS - "And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!'” (Isaiah 6:3; ESV). This is just a small sampling of the incredible and awe-inspiring attributes of our great God! We will spend all of eternity learning more and more of God’s perfections, but let’s resolve to be intentional in the here and now to consider the attributes of our amazing God. After all, it's those efforts that will lead to a life of worship and gratitude as we increasingly become transformed to reflect His character. I’m Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray that You would help me better understand who You are and what You are like. Please give me wisdom so I can have a better understanding of Your attributes. I want to rightly praise and worship You for all of Your many perfections! In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR PACKS:
1. How have you been helped in your walk with God by understanding some of His attributes?
2. Why would it be important for us to try to know all of the attributes of God instead of simply fixating on our "favorites"?
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