Verse of the Day 7/20

 

Verse of the Day 7/20

Psalm 89:6-7 For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?
Who among the heavenly beings[a] is like the Lord,
7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,
and awesome above all who are around him? English Standard Version (ESV)

In today's modern society it seems that God is not respected very much, let alone, revered or "feared". All too often He is thought of more as a genie in a bottle, there to call on when we need Him to grant us wishes or our buddy, pal or grandfatherly figure in heaven or worse. If you say anything about God in some circles, people may try to silence you.

I read the following quote by A.W. Tozer from the middle of the 1900's. He refers to the image of a cowboy God. He writes, "Unbelievers say, "Take your cowboy god and go home," and we get angry and say, "They're vile heathen." No, they're not vile heathen—or at least that's not why they say that. They can't respect our "cowboy god." And since evangelicalism has gone overboard to "cowboy religion," its conception of God is unworthy of Him. Our religion is little because our god is little. Our religion is weak because our god is weak. Our religion is ignoble because the god we serve is ignoble. We do not see God as He is.... A local church will only be as great as its conception of God. An individual Christian will be a success or a failure depending upon what he or she thinks of God. It is critically important that we have a knowledge of the Holy One, that we know what God is like. The Attributes of God, 41,42."

When he wrote the quote above, cowboy westerns were some of the most popular TV shows. If he were writing today, he might change it from a cowboy god to a facebook god, like a facebook friend. You can let these friends "know"about your life but they have little impact and most often very little "skin in the game" of our lives. As our churches will only be 'as great as its conception of God", our faith will only be as great as our personal conception of God.

Do you and I believe in an "awesome God" who rules the oceans, waves (Psalm 89:9) and the storms of life or a cowboy or facebook god who is a god our own creation?

Our God is an awesome God he reigns 
From heaven above with wisdom, power and love
Our God is an awesome God (Rich Mullins)

Blessings,

Mike

Psalm 89:5-9 New Living Translation (NLT)

5 All heaven will praise your great wonders, Lord;
myriads of angels will praise you for your faithfulness.
6 For who in all of heaven can compare with the Lord?
What mightiest angel is anything like the Lord?
7 The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God.
He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne.
8 O Lord God of Heaven's Armies!
Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O Lord?
You are entirely faithful.
9 You rule the oceans.
You subdue their storm-tossed waves.

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