LIBERTY UNIVERSITY RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
The Wonder of God: Thought Journal
Submitted to Dr. Larry McDonald
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
THEO 525-D01
Systematic Theology I
by
Marshai Taylor-Aulton
December 1, 2023
Contents Introduction…………………....……………………………...………………….
Journal Entry One: Introduction
For the purpose of this thought journal, I will document several thought journal entries
that give entail to my own understanding and how I intend to use theological principles within
discipleship endeavors as a ministry leader as a Pastoral Counselor. Additionally, the focus of
these journal entries will be regarding the Wonder of God, and theology relating to the attributes
of God.
Today as I am sitting in my reading chair with my hot chocolate, this thought has been
racing through my mind since I woke up this morning. What is true “discipleship” and what is
“theology”? I have been taught that discipleship is teaching others the way of Christ and how to
follow Him, but I want to know more. I know Matthew 28:19-20 instructs us “Therefore go and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with
you always, to the very end of the age.”1Let me go look at some articles and books that depict
what these terms mean. That will probably assist me in understanding how to read the word of
God, as well as gain an understanding of the wonder of God and His divine attributions. In my
class textbook Christian Theology by Milliard Erickson, I have noticed while reading this week’s
chapter, that theology “ is important because correct doctrinal beliefs are essential to the
relationship between the believer and God. One of these beliefs deals with God’s existence and
character. The writer to the Hebrews, in describing those who, like Abel and Enoch, pleased God,
states: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must
believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (11:6). Without these
1 Unless Otherwise Stated, All Biblical References will be in the New International Version Translation
2
two items of belief one would not even attempt to approach God.”2 J.B Philipps in his book
“Your God is Too Small”, states “ erroneous beliefs about God may develop from one’s
experiences, upbringing, education, and culture. He contends that until one can truly see what He
is like and what His purposes are, one can hardly expect to escape a sense of futility and
frustration.”3As I am looking at this article by Jennifer Hyates titled “The Attributes of God and
Personal Discipleship”, one piece that has caught my attention is her statement of “one’s
theology about God can be wrong, and those beliefs will impact one’s discipleship and worship.”
4 It is amazing to me that interpretation and belief systems can affect myself and others’ prayer
lives, the way I worship, and how I view discipleship of myself. I am learning that my
upbringing, culture, and education also affects how I see not only the world, but how I can
interpret scripture and at some point teach it to others.
Journal Entry Two
I am reminded as I sit here of my childhood, having to go through the difficulty of
growing up in foster care and trying to understand why it appeared others had a healthy family
dynamic and I did not. Even in the midst of experiencing that, I stayed connected to God. I
would attend church on my own and had a hunger to learn more of who He was and how I could
help serve in ministry. I had to learn who He was as a father, and the one who loves without
conditions. I am remembering a scripture now that I have heard often in church, which is (2
Timothy 2:15), “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not
need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”5 So often, I have found myself
2 Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology , 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013), 14.
3 J. B. Phillips, Your God Is Too Small (New York: MacMillan, 1967), 9-63.
4 Jennifer Hyates, The Attributes of God and Personal Discipleship, 2023, 1. https://jenniferhyates.com/the-
attributes-of-god-and-personal-discipleship/
5 Unless Otherwise Stated, All Biblical References will be in the New International Version Translation
3
trying to navigate how to exactly divide the word and if what I am taught even from different
pastors in the churches I have been apart of one hundred percent accurate. I will say, I need to be
more intentional with my time by doing my own personal study of the word after hearing
sermons during Sunday services and bible studies, to really gain more revelation and insight and
read some books in the Bible that aren’t spoken of as frequently in sermons (ex: Zephaniah,
Lamentations, etc). Ok marshai, don’t be so hard on yourself, it’s not like you don’t read the
Bible at all, you are simply just acknowledging you can go deeper. You know what? I can start
today.
Journal Entry Three: God is Faithful and Sovereign
Hmmm…. Let’s start with going back to the basics, which is understanding the attributes
of God. For one, I know that He is Sovereign. This aids in me staying encouraged while also
encouraging others around me who are discouraged to have faith that God is going to see them
through every single trial and tribulation. I can share my testimony. According to William
Leonard in the Holman Bible Dictionary, “Sovereignty means that God is in all and over all.”6
He is omnipresent. I used to think that sovereignty meant that I would be saved from all
heartache and pain, but sovereignty I have found from life experiences actually means faithful
and just. I may not understand my full existence, but know that I am here for a purpose. I do not
know why some devastating and tragic things take place in the world, why sometimes “bad
things happen to good people”, and why some share false biblical teachings, but I believe that in
the end God is everlasting, His word is eternal, and He fights on our behalf. There are countless
scriptures that depict God’s faithfulness, but one of my favorites is (Psalm 100:5) which says,
6 William Leonard, “Sovereignty of God” in Holman Bible Dictionary: The Complete Guide to Everything you
Need to Know About the Bible. eds., Trent C. Butler, Marsha A Ellis Smith, Forrest W. Jackson, Phil Logan, and
Chris Church. (Nashville: Holman, 1991), 1296.
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“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all
generations.” There are days where I wonder how to better explain to others in my generation
and the future generation of how God is faithful, due to there being a generation of young people
who are reality and temporal driven. Patience is a tough virtue to practice in today’s society, as
most are accustomed to wanting to be given solutions at the snap of a finger. God’s sovereignty
overshadows the earth in different forms, even from the way he created the earth, humanity, and
the heavens. Furthermore, with God sending His son to the earth for the redemption of humanity
in itself shows his sovereignty.
Journal Entry Four: God is Holy
Scripture: “For this is what the high and lofty One says- he who lives forever, whose
name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in
spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57:15 NIV)
I used to believe that in order to walk in Holiness, you could do no wrong. Then I
realized that if I was perfect, then I would not have needed a savior. Jesus came for every single
wrong-doing he knew I would commit before I was born into the earth. Jesus was sent as a
purifier and sanctification for us. God is Holy. Millard Erickson shares in his book “Christian
Theology”, “God is holy. God is holy in that He is set apart from all else in His uniqueness, and
He is pure and righteous in all His ways. Erickson writes that there are two aspects of God’s
holiness: his uniqueness and his “absolute purity or goodness.”7 The Lord commands for us to be
Holy as He is Holy, meaning living a surrendered life wanting to learn God’s ways and operating
in biblical principles. For myself, my heart’s desire is to please the Lord with my lifestyle and
7 Erickson, Christian Theology, 256.
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my heart to show others His love. This is not always easy as we have an enemy who is relentless
in causing us to be distracted by temporal things, instant gratification, and selfish-ambitions. I
always pray to be a vessel that fights the good fight of faith, but also to be pure in my
motives/intentions in everything that I say and do. This journey is not always easy and I have
found when leaving the Lord and the Holy Spirit out of the process, it only makes the journey
more difficult. I am Holy because He is Holy, but daily I have to make a decision to walk in His
righteousness.
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