First Things First

 How much thought do we give to who and how big God actually is? How often do we remind ourselves of it?...

"Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD ? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?Has the LORD ever needed anyone’s advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice? No, for all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand." Isaiah 40:12-15 (NLT)

The peace we have with God through Christ Jesus doesn't cancel out our need to have the deepest of respect for the God of all creation. It doesn't eliminate the need for us to show the reverence owed to the God who breathes stars into existence and holds the power of life and death in His hand. In fact, the grace of Christ's sacrifice to save us from God's wrath toward our sin should only heighten our possession of both to offer on the alter of our lives with astounding awe and undiminished gratitude...

“To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One. Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing." Isaiah 40:25-26 (NLT)

What we see so often these days is a slow and unconscious slide from the pinnacle of redemption and respect toward a more easy going accommodation and slippery compromise because of a fading grip on the unchanging eternal facts. Israel's Old Testament history serves as an example to all of us that the words and standards of the all-holy and unchanging God are not to be forgotten or compromised. If we let our thoughts about who God really is and our respect for ALL that He is slip from the forefront of our thoughts, we do so at our own peril and shame. 

"You have not come to a physical mountain, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai. For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking. They staggered back under God’s command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, “I am terrified and trembling.”

No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!"  Hebrews 12:18-25

We pass through this place under the watchful gaze of a loving God, but the God who also posses power more terrifying than our minds can imagine. He's the God who's perfect in every facet of His character and being - far beyond what any human being could match of our own accord in order to be permitted to stand in His presence righteously. He's also the God who allowed His deep love for us to compel Him to suffer painfully for our unrighteousness - paying the penalty of our imperfections to redeem us to Himself through Christ, so that we could be reunited with Him. What we owe Him is a debt of unending respect, love and gratitude, unspeakable in its measure. 

Since He created us for Himself...

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:11 (KJ)

... and has made Himself all-in-all to us, we owe Him nothing less than our ALL - first in our thoughts, first in our obedience, first in our priorities, first in our submission, first in our respect, first in our placement of faith and trust, first in our love, first in our guidance, first in our offerings, first in relationships, first in our gratitude, first in our motivations, first in our faithfulness, first in our desire, ... FIRST.

"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."  Micah 6:8 (NLT)