Who Do You Worship?

“You’ll become like that which you worship.” Those were the words of my mentor and friend John Olen Strange as we looked at the teaching of the Old Testament about worshiping other gods.

It was true then, and it is true now. You will become like the god you worship.

While most of us worship the God who revealed Himself to the people of Israel and then appeared in human flesh, we still must ask if we truly know God as He is.

Who is God and what does He do?

The Hebrews used a variation of a descriptive formula to describe God. When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, He came down in the cloud and stood with Moses and proclaimed His name, the Lord. “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation” (Exodus 34:6-7).

This description of God is found in Numbers, several Psalms, Joel, Jonah, Nahum, and Malachi. In Daniel God is described as “merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him” (Daniel 9:9).

The common denominator in all of this is God is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger (patient and long-suffering), and overflowing in faithful love and devotion. Though He does not leave the guilty unpunished, He loves to bestow mercy and forgiveness.

This is the God we worship and the God we should follow. As He is so should we be. He desires that we become as He is.

Listen to the commands in Scripture:

“I am the Lord wh0 brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45). “Be merciful, just as your father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). “Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).

“Heavenly Father, thank you for revealing Yourself to us. Help us to become like You, We desire to follow you. Please make us holy, merciful, tenderhearted, and forgiving.”

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2 Responses

  1. Heavenly Father, as You, according to Your Word are not mocked. As You direct Yours to completely (utterly) destroy that which is evil. Protect and Direct us to know the difference between Vengeance which is Yours and putting away evil out of our midst, which is our charge in You. Acts 13:19. Thank You for the means personally and corporately in Christ Jesus. Romans 12, Romans 10:21. May we be aware of this domain and “legion.” Lift Yours on Your Wings and be Glorified.
    AMEN
    Blessings

  2. AMEN, Lord develop in me a Spirit of true desire and compassion to know you Father that I may continue my journey for You in Jesus name, AMEN.

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