Living Free - July 18, 2013
Don’t Take God Lightly
Today's Scripture
"Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." - 2 Corinthians 7:1 NIV
Thoughts for Today
Television programs are rampant with kids showing no respect to parents, workers showing no respect to employers, people showing no respect to God.
Reverencing God means we do not take God or his message lightly. Watching movies that trivialize him or socializing with people who use his name in vain can slowly but surely detract from our reverence for him?
Noah was surrounded by people who had no respect for God. In fact, the world was full of so much violence and corruption that the Lord was grieved and decided to wipe mankind from the face of the earth.
Noah didn't go along with the crowd to "fit in." Even when people laughed at him and said cruel things about him, Noah continued to do all that God commanded. God's instructions to build an ark probably didn't make sense to Noah, but he reverenced his Lord and so he obeyed. The result? Noah and his family were saved from the coming judgment. And God counted Noah's faith as righteousness.
Consider this …
Let us not take God lightly. May we trust him and reverence him enough to walk with him in obedience—even when we don't understand. Even when others ridicule or oppose us.
Prayer
Father, help me do what is right rather than what is easy. Help me to honor you by totally trusting and obeying you. In Jesus' name …
These thoughts were drawn from …
Godly Heroes: A Small Group Study of Hebrews 11 by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. This guide presents a step-by-step study of Hebrews 11. It also features the profile of the characteristics of Godly heroes, written in language that relates to today's living. In this guide you will find definitions, characteristics and examples of the heroes' faith life. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.
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