Tag: God

Our Response to God’s Kingship

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Discipleship, Practical, The Gospel and the Christian LifeLeave a comment

King Lake

Since God is our Creator and King, we should worship and obey Him. Worship and obedience, however, is a foreign idea to most people today. God isn’t naturally viewed as a King we should worship, but John paints a different picture for us in Revelation.

In 4:11 John writes,

““Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”” (Re 4:11)

So God is someone we should worship. We should worship Him because He is our Creator. Everything we see, the Lord created, including you and me. His Creative power, His sovereignty, and ownership should lead us to worship Him.

What Does It Mean To Worship God and How Do We Worship Him?

Worshipping God means we show a deep respect and love for Him. We worship Him by praising Him, as well as by exalting or holding Him in high regard. When you come to church on Sunday, we do all these things. We praise God by singing of His attributes, abilities, and actions. As well as we hold Him in high regard by reading, studying and learning from His Word.

Not only should we worship, by praising and exalting Him, but we should also worship Him by obeying Him. Obeying God means we think, do, and act as He wants. In other words, we live according to His will.

How do we know God’s will?

God reveals His will in His Word — the Bible. The Bible then isn’t just a book of stories, nor is it just a book of rules. The Bible is a book about God and man. It reveals who God is, who we are, what He has done, and what we are to do. So if we want to know about God, we go to His word. If we want to know about ourselves, we go to His Word. If we want to know what God has done, we go to His Word. And if we want to know how we are to live, we go to God’s Word.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Why is it important we read and study God’s Word?
  2. If we worship God through living obedient lives, what does that imply about where we can worship God?

Resources

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How Do You Know If You Rely On God?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Practical4 Comments

God Word Art

Self reliance is and has always been the beat of our heart. We don’t believe we need others, or God for that matter. Take these quotes for instance:

“It is folly for a man to pray to the gods for that which he has the power to obtain by himself.”

― Epicurus

“I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself.”

― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

“Trust your instincts, and make judgements on what your heart tells you. The heart will not betray you.”

― David Gemmell, Fall of Kings

“Remember, this is important: Never trust that you will be saved by anyone.”

― Amanda Boyden, Pretty Little Dirty

But is this true? Should we rely on ourselves alone? Can we save ourselves, care for ourselves, and do all by ourselves without anyone else’s help?

I don’t think so. We were created to be dependent creatures. That doesn’t mean we are to depend on others for handouts, or to do all for us. Rather it means we were primarily created to be cared for and sustained by our Creator. By design, we are to rely on God.

How do you know you rely on God? There are several questions you can ask yourself. Let me offer three.

(1) Do you pray and read God’s Word?

Our God is not silent. His will is found in His word and through prayer. He doesn’t leave us to wonder. We know exactly what is good for us. What is right for us. What God expects of us. How we should live and act.

So do you search God’s Word for answers? Do you bow before the Lord in prayer? If you do these things on a regular basis, you know you rely on God.

(2) Do you hope in God?

There are several things we could hope in, one of which is ourselves. Those who do push everyone away, thinking they can do it all on their own; that they are their own savior.

A classic example of this are those who are too proud to ask for help when they are in financial trouble. It doesn’t matter what happens or how bad it gets, they aren’t willing to go to their family, friends, or church for help. They would rather loose everything and go without.

People can also hope in others. It’s not wrong to ask others, or the church for help. We should in times of need. The problem arises when we think others are our hope, our salvation. Israel had that problem. Instead of hoping in the Lord, they hoped in other nations. Time and time again you read of prophets calling them back to the Lord, but they didn’t listen.

Israel’s problem is still our problem. We hope in others to save us, but men can’t save us. The only person who can save us is God. We should put our hope in Him. He will never leave us, nor forsake us. He will always deliver on His promises.

So who do you hope in? Yourself? Others? God? Your answer will determine who you rely on.

(3) Do you live according to God’s Will?

If you rely on the Lord, you won’t live according to your will, or societies will, but according to God’s Will. You will do this because you recognize God’s will isn’t a hindrance, but a grace. It’s a trustworthy gift given that causes us to flourish.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Who do you rely on?
  2. Do you see God, others, or yourself as your functional Savior?
  3. Do you live according to God’s will?
  4. Do you pray and read God’s Word often?

Resources

Post adapted from my sermon Rely on God

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On Man’s Ego

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals, Quotes6 Comments

Never in the history of the race has man been so busily occupied with the study of himself as he is today.

The behavioral scientists and the religionists are turning out tons of material for us to read as we search for new knowledge about ourselves. Most of us are surprisingly eager to do our assigned reading because, quite frankly, we are enthralled and fascinated with our subject. We are unreservedly devoted to this baffling, unmanageable creature called man.

No one interests us more than ourselves.

One large reason for this is that we are all egoists at heart. And that’s a problem, the world’s biggest. God has shown us how this problem is solved. God is Himself the solution.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Are you enthralled with yourself?
  2. Do you realize you have an ego problem?
  3. Do you know that God is the solution?

Resources

Earl Jabay, The god-players, preface.

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Wisdom Apart From the Lord is a Counterfeit

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn DevotionalsLeave a comment

Walk in the Forrest

Where can we find wisdom? Man says in Philosophy, the arts, or by looking to ourselves, but God tells us something different. Here is what He says through Job:

“But where shall wisdom be 
          found?
     And where is the place of 
          understanding?
Man does not know its worth,
     and it is not found in the land 
          of the living.
The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’
     and the sea says, ‘It is not with 
          me.’
It cannot be bought for gold,
     and silver cannot be weighed as 
          its price.
It cannot be valued in the gold of 
          Ophir,
     in precious onyx or sapphire.
Gold and glass cannot equal it,
     nor can it be exchanged for 
          jewels of fine gold.
No mention shall be made of 
          coral or of crystal;
     the price of wisdom is above 
          pearls.
The topaz of Ethiopia cannot 
          equal it,
     nor can it be valued in pure 
          gold.

“From where, then, does wisdom 
          come?
     And where is the place of 
          understanding?
It is hidden from the eyes of all 
          living
     and concealed from the birds of 
          the air.
Abaddon and Death say,
     ‘We have heard a rumor of it 
          with our ears.’

“God understands the way to it,
     and he knows its place.
For he looks to the ends of the 
          earth
     and sees everything under the 
          heavens.
When he gave to the wind its 
          weight
     and apportioned the waters by 
          measure,
when he made a decree for the 
          rain
     and a way for the lightning of 
          the thunder,
then he saw it and declared it;
     he established it, and searched 
          it out.
And he said to man,
     ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that 
          is wisdom,
     and to turn away from evil is 
          understanding.’ ” - Job 28:12-28

Where Do We Find Wisdom?

Wisdom isn’t found with man. It can’t be bought. It can’t be searched, or mined out of the self. Wisdom is found only in the Lord, and specifically in fearing the Lord.

Wisdom is found only in the Lord.

Wisdom, then, is learning and obeying God’s commandments. It is living according to God’s ways and not man’s ways.

So then, if you aren’t following God, you aren’t wise. Your wisdom is counterfeit because true wisdom is found only in the fear of the Lord.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Where do you believe Wisdom is found?
  2. Do you agree with Job?

Resource

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iOS 7 and the Glory of God

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Devotionals2 Comments

Homescreen

Yesterday I updated my phone to iOS 7. Apple’s newest operating system for mobile devices. It is stunning! A remarkable work of design. It boasts a simple, elegant, and clean interface.

While Apple’s purpose is not to bring glory to God through their newest OS, that is what it does.

How?

God is a Creator, a Designer. He designed and created this world. Through His hands a stunning and beautiful world was made. Its beauty, its majesty, its amazing scenes, and breath taking settings bring glory to God.

Through His hands we were made as well. In His image we were made, which means He endowed us with His abilities of design and creation.

When we create or design, we use what God has given us and we bring Him glory. Christians are not the only one’s who bring Him glory when they create, everyone does, even Apple.

Conclusion

So the next time you pull your iPhone out of your pocket and slide it open, think about God’s design and creation, and give Him glory – praise Him, worship Him, and thank Him.

Question for Reflection

  1. Do you believe things we design bring glory to God?

 

 

God Has A Trustworthy Plan

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn DevotionalsLeave a comment

God's Plan

In Matthew 13:35, Matthew tells us Jesus reveals what “has been hidden since the foundation of the world” when He speaks to His disciples in parables. Matthew comment reveals that God’s has always had a plan. A plan that has been active since the world was created.

The Story of the Bible Reveals God’s Plan

The Bible makes God’s plan evident. From Creation to the Fall to Abraham to the Exodus and beyond, God has a plan. We see His plan worked out as prophecies are made and prophecies are fulfilled; promises are made and promises are fulfilled.

So we see that God has a plan. A plan that has existed since the beginning of the world.

The Creator’s Plan Doesn’t Fail

Not only does God have a plan, but God is the ruler of this world. He created it all. He rules it all. Since He is sovereign and the ruler over all, His plan doesn’t fail. Our plans might fail, but God’s plans don’t.

Our Plans Change But God’s Doesn’t

This last Monday, my wife planned to go to Wal-Mart and pick up a few things for the house. She got ready, she wrote out a list, she scheduled time to go, but it didn’t happen. Her plans changed because of something outside of her control. Our 3-month old didn’t cooperate. He was either crying, sleeping, needed to be changed, needed to be consoled, or needed to be feed. So she didn’t make it to Wal-Mart on Monday.

My wife’s plan changed because of something outside of her control but not so with God.

God’s plan doesn’t change because there is nothing outside of His control. God controls everything. He is sovereign. His plan never fail.

We Can Trust God’s Plan

So when Matthew tells us these Parables lay out God’s plan, we can trust that His plan will come to fruition. Our plans may fail and change but God’s doesn’t.

Question for Reflection

  1. Do you trust God’s plan?

Resource

Post adapted from my most recent sermon: Why is Evil Allowed to Continue?