Worship

Scripture

How do we view the Lord? Is He the cold, distant judge who unflinchingly watches from above? Is He the kindly, loving relative who never says a negative word? How do we know what is true and what is false? The only way to really know the Lord is to spend time with Him. We have to get to know Him through His word, through prayer, through time spent with Him in praise, prayer, and listening. It’s the only way to truly reconcile who God is. How does the God we see in Ezekiel in chapters 39-40 match with what we know of God when He created us? How does it match with what we know of God as He stood in the form of Jesus and taught the sermon on the mount? Truthfully, God is all this and so much more. He does love with a fierce love that devastates sin. He is holy with purity that is blinding when truly witnessed. He is the God who became man because of His love, and here He is the God who wanted the people to know that He was capable of showing His fierceness to those who would refuse Him. Passages like today can be hard as we see the Lord talking about wiping out enemies. If we don’t truly take the time to get to know Him (as best we can), then these passages can feel like stumbling blocks. We have to be able to know God throughout the Bible to know who He truly is. It’s the only way we can begin to understand all the attributes of God and not just one. To say that God is only one thing is not to know Him. It creates a false balance in our heads and hearts. We can be tripped up by trying to figure out why a loving God would say that Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…yet also know that this same God preached forgiveness for sins. Similarly, we are not only one thing. We were made in God’s image, yet of course we are not perfect, and we have all fallen to sin. We need a relationship with the Lord.  A relationship only exists when it’s developed and cultivated, which is what happens when we spend time with Him.

Prayer

HONOR GOD

Romans11:33

Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

 In every instance that I do not have an answer, God does. 

ASK GOD

Romans 8:32 NASB

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 

 Surely the Lord is willing to grant us our very minor requests in comparison to the absolute best that Heaven has to offer; which He has already given us in His son Jesus!

SUBMIT TO GOD

Lamentations 3:24-25

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I wait for Him.” The Lord is good to those who await Him, To the person who seeks Him. 

 I chose to wait until God’s answer is clear, until His hand is present, until His peace is my guiding force. I trust in His goodness.

CLOSING PRAYER

Father, we know you are in control. Thank you that we can trust in your power and your word. Help us to recognize the magicians and illusions of this world that will attempt to distract us from your power. May your Holy Spirit lead us through conviction and encouragement to trust in your holy word.  In Jesus Name, Amen.