Category: Reverence

Reverence God’s Name

“‘You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.’” Exodus 20:7 (NIV) God’s Name represents His nature and His character. God is holy, immutable, eternal, omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. God was never born and He will never die. God is love, compassion, mercy, grace, justice, perfection, and righteousness. When Abraham encountered God, he fell facedown (Gen. 17:1-3). When Moses encountered God, he hid his face (Exod. 3:1-6). Joshua fell facedown when he encountered God (Josh. 5:13-15). Ezekiel fell facedown when he encountered God (Ezek. 1:25-28). While in exile on the island of Patmos, John encountered the Lord and fell at His feet as though dead (Rev. 1:17). The Third Commandment is a guardrail to help us maintain a right relationship with God. Our view of God is demonstrated by our thoughts, our conversation, and our conduct. The lifestyle we embrace is a direct reflection of our view of God. Reverencing God’s Name includes how we make decisions, how we treat others, and how we invest our time. Your life will either honor God or dishonor God. The choices you make dictate the direction of your life and the trajectory of your love for God. When you choose to drift from God, you are choosing to misuse the name of the Lord. When you choose to live in the flesh rather than walking in the Spirit, you misuse the name of the Lord. What will others learn about God by viewing your life? Does your life radiate reverence for God? Will others be drawn to God by your devotion and loyalty to Him? Reverence God’s Name by living up to the Name you bear. You are a child of the Living God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

God's Name Reverence Ten Commandments

Reverence God’s Name

“‘You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.’” Exodus 20:7 (NIV) God’s Name represents His nature and His character. God is holy, immutable, eternal, omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. God was never born and He will never die. God is love, compassion, mercy, grace, justice, perfection, and righteousness. When Abraham encountered God, he fell facedown (Gen. 17:1-3). When Moses encountered God, he hid his face (Ex. 3:1-6). Joshua fell facedown when he encountered God (Josh. 5:13-15). Ezekiel fell facedown when he encountered God (Ezek. 1:25-28). While in exile on the island of Patmos, John encountered the Lord and fell at His feet as though dead. The Third Commandment is a guardrail to help us maintain a right relationship with God. Our view of God is demonstrated by our thoughts, our conversation, and our conduct. The lifestyle we embrace is a direct reflection of our view of God. Reverencing God’s Name includes how we make decisions, how we treat others, and how we invest our time. Your life will either honor God or dishonor God. The choices you make dictate the direction of your life and the trajectory of your love for God. When you choose to drift from God, you are choosing to misuse the name of the Lord. When you choose to live in the flesh rather than walking in the Spirit, you misuse the name of the Lord. What will others learn about God by viewing your life? Does your life radiate reverence for God? Will others be drawn to God by your devotion and loyalty to Him? Reverence God’s Name by living up to the Name you bear. You are a child of the Living God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Faithfulness of God Heart Portray Reverence

Stick Out Your Tongue

“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matt 12:33-34 (NIV) Do you remember the days when the nurse would ask you to stick out your tongue in order to insert a thermometer? The process was to detect your physical temperature. Your tongue is also an indicator of your spiritual temperature. The words you speak reflect what’s in your heart. Jesus affirmed that the mouth speaks out of the overflow of the heart. Biting your tongue is not sufficient. It’s really not about your tongue. It’s about your heart. Whatever is in your heart will be displayed by your speech. The way you speak to others will exhibit what’s in your heart. Just as a good tree will bear good fruit and a bad tree produces bad fruit, your words will bear fruit based on the spiritual condition of your heart. Open your mouth and stick out your tongue. What has your tongue revealed about your heart this week? Examine the words you have spoken. Have you been gracious and kind in your conversations? Have your interactions revealed a heart aligned with God’s heart? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor (This devotional was originally posted in ’07 or ’08. I’m taking a break from writing for a season of personal renewal.) Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell

Fear Good Life Intimacy with God Reverence Wisdom

The Good Life (4)

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Eccl 12:13 (NIV) Imagine enjoying a cup of coffee at Starbuck’s with one of the wisest men to ever live, Solomon. That’s right! You are sitting across from Solomon and you ask him to share with you what he has learned after experiencing life in a way that few would ever experience in a lifetime. Solomon pursued wealth, wisdom, and women. At the end of his life, he looks into the review mirror and captures what matters most. Let me share the first essential to doing life God’s way: Revere God. Solomon says to “fear God.” In the language of the Old Testament, to fear God means to revere God. It means to hold God in high esteem. We are to place the worth and value on God that He deserves. We are to reverence God for who He is and for what He has done. Revering God involves giving Him first place in your life. Your ambition is to honor God with your life. His agenda becomes the focus of your life. You revere God by aligning your heart with His heart. Revering God is demonstrated by loving what God loves, and by hating what God hates. In his book, Walking with God, John Eldredge writes, “I assume that an intimate, conversational walk with God is available, and is meant to be normal.” As you walk with God and revere Him, your love relationship with God will become intimate. Doing life God’s way always produces intimacy with God and brings Him pleasure. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor