Am I in awe of God?
The way we answer that question says a lot about how we pray.
A quick glance at the Merriam-Webster dictionary yields this definition of awe: "An emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime."
So, do we approach God with dread, veneration and wonder?
People in the Old Testament collapsed in terror before God and his angels. They recognized he was holy and good while they were stained by sin. They were aware of God's overwhelming power and majesty.
A good example is the prophet Isaiah who had a vision of God in the temple in Isaiah 6. He cried out: "It's all over! I am doomed for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven's Armies."
God responded graciously, sending a seraph with a coal to touch his lips and tell him: "See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven."
Today, we believers can enter the presence of God with confidence because Christ has died for our sins (Hebrews 4:16).
Does that mean we no longer need to come before God with awe?
No, it does not. The mighty God of the Old Testament is still the mighty God of our day.
The apostle John presents a great picture of Christ speaking to him in a vision in Revelation 1:12-16. The image of Jesus was glorious, a vision of overwhelming power with a thundering voice.
John reacted as Isaiah had: "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead."
But Jesus replied: "Don't be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look - I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave."
As with Isaiah, God was gracious toward his loved one.
Christians today worship the Lord just as Christians have for many centuries. But do we see him the way John saw him in his vision?
I have been thinking and reading about the attributes of God recently. Like many Christians, I tend to dwell on his qualities of love and healing. But I usually pass over other aspects.
Now, I am beginning to meditate on the Lord's awesome character. For instance, God:
I love the fact that Revelation describes Jesus as the sacrificial lamb and the "Lion of Judah". He is both.
He is truly awesome.
The way we answer that question says a lot about how we pray.
A quick glance at the Merriam-Webster dictionary yields this definition of awe: "An emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime."
So, do we approach God with dread, veneration and wonder?
People in the Old Testament collapsed in terror before God and his angels. They recognized he was holy and good while they were stained by sin. They were aware of God's overwhelming power and majesty.
A good example is the prophet Isaiah who had a vision of God in the temple in Isaiah 6. He cried out: "It's all over! I am doomed for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven's Armies."
God responded graciously, sending a seraph with a coal to touch his lips and tell him: "See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven."
Today, we believers can enter the presence of God with confidence because Christ has died for our sins (Hebrews 4:16).
Does that mean we no longer need to come before God with awe?
No, it does not. The mighty God of the Old Testament is still the mighty God of our day.
The apostle John presents a great picture of Christ speaking to him in a vision in Revelation 1:12-16. The image of Jesus was glorious, a vision of overwhelming power with a thundering voice.
John reacted as Isaiah had: "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead."
But Jesus replied: "Don't be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look - I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave."
As with Isaiah, God was gracious toward his loved one.
Christians today worship the Lord just as Christians have for many centuries. But do we see him the way John saw him in his vision?
I have been thinking and reading about the attributes of God recently. Like many Christians, I tend to dwell on his qualities of love and healing. But I usually pass over other aspects.
Now, I am beginning to meditate on the Lord's awesome character. For instance, God:
- Has always existed;
- Created the universe and the ant - everything - out of nothing;
- Knew everything about me before I was created - even knew my thoughts, the things I think about today;
- Is everywhere in the world and the universe every moment of the day;
- Sets up kings and kingdoms - and tears them down;
- Judges and punishes evil; and
- Intervenes to bring healing and help when people run out of hope.
I love the fact that Revelation describes Jesus as the sacrificial lamb and the "Lion of Judah". He is both.
He is truly awesome.
