Attributes of God – God of All
In this sermon, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III teaches that God is the Lord of all — Creator, Sustainer, and Caretaker of all creation. From angels to humans, from birds to worms, everything lives under His care. God is not the God of one nation or people but of the whole universe.
1. God the Creator and Sustainer
God created heaven and earth, the plants watered by rain, the flowers, the bees that collect nectar, and the humans who enjoy honey. He feeds the birds that neither sow nor reap and even provides food for the worm under the stone.
2. God of All Nations
Jesus Christ came to save everyone. He told His disciples:
“Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
“Preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
And in Revelation, John saw a great multitude from every nation standing before God, crying, “Salvation belongs to our God.”
3. God of the Strong and the Weak
God is the God of the strong like Samson and David, and also of the weak like Jacob who feared Esau, and Abel who was slain. He is the God of prisoners and the helpless.
4. God of the Wise and the Simple
He is the God of Solomon the wise and Paul the learned, and also of Peter the simple and the uneducated monks filled with heavenly wisdom. God looks at the heart, not the intellect.
5. God of the Sick and the Healthy
Christ healed the sick, freed the possessed, and comforted the suffering. He is God of both the rejoicing and the sorrowful.
6. God of Saints and Sinners
He sanctifies the righteous and calls sinners to repentance. Without Him, no sinner could repent.
He drew Mary of Egypt and Saul of Tarsus to Himself, turning them into saints.
7. God of the Married and the Virgins
He is the God of Moses the married and Elijah the celibate, the Virgin Mary and Mary the wife of Cleopas. He blessed Leah the unloved and Rachel the beloved. From Leah came Judah and Levi — the tribes of kings and priests.
8. God of the Contemplative and the Active
He is the God of Anthony the hermit and Athanasius the defender.
The God of prayer and of service — of those who stay in solitude and those who labor for the faith.
9. God of the Poor and the Rich
He is the God of the hungry and naked, and also of the rich who use their wealth for good. What matters is generosity and humility, not possession.
10. God Resists the Proud
The only ones God resists are the proud:
“God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
Even Job was tested until he humbled himself and said, “I repent in dust and ashes.”
Conclusion
God is the God of all — saint and sinner, rich and poor, strong and weak.
Every person has a place with Him if their heart is humble and open.
He loves everyone, but His grace dwells only in the humble heart.
