How does the self-existence of God promote the endeavors of the mind and heart after God? This sounds so abstract, I can almost hear some say, that it might promote abstract thinking, but it will not promote love for God and His glory. But surely this is a false way of thinking. The self-existence of God is at the very core of His being and influences His moral attributes and how they come to man in order to strengthen him. This is the attribute of God that shows that He has no need and is the very cause of all things and is a necessary Being. This is the attribute that Paul preached at Athens to distinguish between their false gods and the One and true God. This is a necessary teaching and is the declaration of the true God. Self-existence is, after all, the real meaning behind the name YAHWEH. The great I AM is the God of Israel and makes no apologies for doing all for His name’s sake.
Man’s understanding should be lifted up and formed by his thoughts of God. After all, this text tells us to be transformed by the renewing of the mind. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2). What can be more transforming than thinking the thoughts of God after Him? What can be more elevating to the mind than to think and meditate on the glory of God? What can drive man from the fleeting pleasures of sin more than thinking on the very glory and majesty of God?
The teaching on the self-existence of God gets to the heart of creation issues and those having to do with life and the beginning of life. Meditating on God and His glory takes the mind from creaturely issues and focuses it on God and His glory. Meditating on self-existence sharpens the focus of man in his understanding on what the truth is regarding all the physical things on earth as well. Life only comes from life and all life comes from the God who is life itself. How breathtaking it is to meditate on life itself. It is not wrong to study biology, but how glorious it is to trace all biological life back to God who is life, that is, the very source of all life in the beginning and the One who sustains all life even now. A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but the only way to keep from wasting the mind and what it was created for is to use it to in meditating on its Creator and how all things relate to Him.
Dwelling upon God is this way as the self-existent One helps man fight deception. The world is set up by the Prince of the power of darkness (Eph 2:1-3) and it operates according to morals and mindsets of that kingdom. Those who love God must escape that mindset by focusing on the truth of who God is. Seeing beyond this realm to the spiritual realm helps man not to be deceived by the allure of worldly attitudes and customs. Sin is really a deception as to what is reality and to what is truly good for man.
Dwelling upon the truth of God and His self-existence and self-sufficiency should delight the heart of those who love God. It is glorious to meditate upon Him who needs nothing and no one. He is the I AM. It is delightful to the heart and the affections to meditate upon the freeness of the love and grace of God. He needs no one and is under obligation to no one. He is utterly free in terms of having no need and can do as He pleases with no one being able to thwart Him or call Him to account (Dan 4:35). Yet this great God in order to demonstrate the glory of His grace shows grace and love to man. There is nothing in man that can move God to show this love and grace, but God is self-moved because He is self-existent. How this should fire the affections and joy of saved sinners to see just how free salvation is. This should give man great grounds for praying for the glory of God and His kingdom since He is self-moved. What freedom one has to approach God based on the name of Christ to plead with Him to do that which is to the glory of His name. With what freedom man can approach God to ask Him to strengthen His people with His love since it is His love and is for His glory. How this should free man from slavery to works or any other thing but a love for the glory of God. How this should free man from self-consciousness and self-centeredness and deliver him over to a love for the glory of the self-existent and self-sufficient God from whom all things come.
This teaching should move man to flee from the world. All the items in the world have been created to manifest the glory of God. When I dote on an object as something for self, I am an idolater. God is the creator, owner, and sustainer of all things including me. I am created to be filled with His glory in order to manifest His character and to use things for the purpose which they have been made. Idolatry is to use things for self rather than to manifest God. Meditating on the I AM will help deliver from idolatry. How this should drive man to an utter humility to see his need for God at each and every moment and that God does not need him for anything at all. Free grace. Glory.
God Loves... Himself 
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