April 23, 2007

• Our Relationship with God

  Isaiah 29:13, 14 says, "Then the Lord said, 'Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote, therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous; and the wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed." (NASB)

  As Christians, how are we doing in how we treat our God in our relationship with Him?  Are we just giving Him the outward appearance of service or a true, genuine, reverent heart of service?  God can see through the outward veneer of religiousity.  He doesn't want it; I'm reminded of another passage in Revelation.  Revelation 3:15, 16 says, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.  So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth." (NASB)  God wants us, individually, to be passionate and hot for God.  We need to be actively serving God with everything we have for it is the least we can do. Romans 12:1 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present you bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual (or reasonable) service of worship." (NASB)  To give our very lives in service to God is reasonable because He has given His all for our salvation; so that we could be counted as children of God.  Our lives of service is the very least we can do for Him.

  So God is saying through Isaiah that, I don't want just words or just rote tradition.  I don't want cheap reverence or outward reverence.  I want your heart and I want your very soul to worship and serve Me.  I'm not saying this; it's God.  Please recognize that our outward appearance of spirituality is not enough; God see right through it.  So stop pretending, stop being lukewarm and be on fire and passionate for God.  Do His will and service with all your heart and you will be rewarded with a contented life and the privilege to "sit down with Me on My throne" (Rev. 3:21 NASB).  God will grant us the privilege of sitting with Him on the throne in heaven.  I believe this to say that one day we will reign with Him in the new heavens and new earth.

  CHRISTIANS, SERVE GOD WITH ALL THAT YOU HAVE!

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