Revering God: How to Marvel at Your Maker

by Thaddeus Williams

Prepare to be awestruck at the most reliable, enjoyable, victorious, loving, redemptive, and expressive being in existence...your Creator. This is an invitation to revere God.

At the deepest level, the chief reason we are all here is to glorify and enjoy God. But for many people, God remains a vague, wispy, cloud of cosmic kindness, a super-sized projection of ourselves into the sky, or an impossible-to-please killjoy. But who is God, really? Who is this being we should thank for our next breath? Who has He revealed himself to be in His Word?

Questions like these inspire some to deep dive into theology. They emerge with a sophisticated new vocabulary, a head full of syllogisms, and a God who seems more like an abstract x at the end of a logical equation than the living, moving, affectionate God of Scripture. In Revering God, bestselling author Thaddeus Williams invites you to meet the real, living God, offering profound insight into God's attributes and practical ways to live a God-centered life, bridging the gap between abstract theology and awe-inspired devotion.

Revering God

Scripture that shows what God revealed about himself.Stories from contemporary theologians on how divine attributes have impacted their lives.Exercises and practical steps to live out God's attributes at home, in your community, and in the workplace.Recommended resources for further study.Learn to encounter God and worship him in a way that draws you into a deeper state of awe, joy, and reverence for the One who made you.

Genres: Nonfiction, Theology, Faith

261 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2024

Reviews

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve grown up learning a lot of theological concepts and in recent years studying theology has been tiring to me. I love books like this that tap into the practical side of it—what should our response be to God being who He is? This book examines God as reliable, enjoyable, victorious, eternally-loving, redemptive, and expressive and how we should revere Him in our lives in light of those. It’s an engaging read and I especially recommend it for anyone who is more creatively inclined—hearing the author speak on God’s creativity and our joy and delight in Him is what made me wake up a bit after a long lecture day and buy the book.

[Rachel Mayes Allen]

A digestible and challenging book for apologetics and spiritual growth. Williams is always a warm, informative, and convincing writer, and this book showcases all of those qualities effectively.

[Lauren Terwilliger · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I enjoyed reading this book and contemplating the deeper thoughts of the author on how we can fully revere God, I was put off by the presentation of ideas in Part 5 (Redemptive: God Saves Sinners).

In this section (specifically p.146), the author compares several views of soteriology (salvation) in relation to how much the effort is of God vs. of man. However, this section was set up as a straw-man argument since it did not include other views within orthodox Christianity. He presented 5 options and “proved” how his viewpoint (based on irresistible grace - all effort is of God and none of man) was the correct one to land on. However, it is within Christian orthodoxy to have a balanced view (efficacious grace - all of God but man must respond / AKA: choose to believe), which is what I have landed on after much study in this area myself.

Overall, it was an intriguing read and I found most of it very fascinating, but the tone and lack of “receipts” for the irresistible grace viewpoint without acknowledgment of other acceptable views of soteriology within the church was off putting.

[Glen Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent little book reminding us to spend much more time looking at God because we are “nowhere near as interesting, awesome, or worthy of worship as the Creator of the universe”. Williams spends each chapter reflecting on one attribute of God which he uses to point a spotlight on our modern idols and temptations.

I especially enjoyed his chapter on beauty, a worshipful close to the book. I’m looking forward to reading this with my youth leaders to consider how this can help us teach our students the doctrine of God.

[Jake Each · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep truths put in very clear ways. Really enjoyed this book!

[Timothyemmalee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really quite superb. Everyone should read it. It's warm with humor without being cutesy, and it's rich with deep thoughts without being abstract or something fit only for ivory towers.

[Jeffrey C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Williams, Revering God provides a compelling account of the several marks of authentic theology—marks that extend to all believers as they participate in the love of Christ and cultivate the virtues that flow from him. Precisely, love, wisdom, patience, courage, and vigilance lead to the marks of a theologian. Yet, these marks can be obscured when individuals elevate themselves as if they were self-sufficient or omniscient, pursuing sin rather than delighting in God. Others may trivialize or abandon Christian pursuits, devoting themselves instead to fleeting pleasures or shortsighted activities. Some struggle with the hiddenness of God, but even in such moments of divine silence, the longing for true joy awakens a deeper thirst for Him. Still others are enticed by countercultural narratives, weighed down by anxiety, and thereby fail to recognize the providence and loving care of God.

Nevertheless, God’s sovereignty is comprehensive, extending over the entire cosmos and ensuring the fulfillment of his purposes. Williams emphasizes that God is the Holy Father who will achieve ultimate victory, and to revere Him is to acknowledge His supreme glory and universal dominion. The Son himself perfectly executes the will of the Father, and nothing can thwart that purpose—none whom the Father gives to the Son will be lost. Thus, Williams reassures his readers that all are God’s masterpiece created in Christ Jesus for good works. In the end, the Father will conform his people to the image of the Son, which constitutes the highest expression of divine sovereignty and the ultimate telos of human existence. Hence, Revering God is an excellent read for anyone seeking to gain a deeper understanding of God’s sovereignty and authentic theology.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your biggest and most important goal in life should be to know and revere the One who created you. The Greatest Commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. But you can't properly love what you don't know. Thankfully, God has provided us with His very words and revelation by which to do this as we seek Him through the pages of Scripture, prayer, and relationship. But sometimes (or often times?), it's nice to have solid theologians who can help highlight, sharpen, sift, and hone the insights we gain from Scripture. Williams does a brilliant job of this, illuminating truths about the attributes, character, and nature of God that we might either miss or, if only, need a good reminding. He does so in ways that are understandable and applicable, yet deep and thorough. Every believer should be regularly in the Scriptures and constantly pursuing a true and thorough understanding of Who God is. But if you ever find yourself lost on how to mine, unmask, or synthesize these truths (admit it), read this book and let Williams help. This will be a book I come back to again and again.

[J.M. Sommers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting with current state of the church and it's leaders, the author builds a case for Christians to grow in their relationship with a just, holy and loving God. A great journey with great questions at the end of each chapter which will make you rethink your daily walk with God.

[Keith Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A joyful book about God. Worth your time to read.