Worship for Today: Our God of love and judgment.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Ephesians 5:6-7,

 

"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them."

 

As Paul encourages his readers to live their lives in a manner that is worthy of the calling they have received, he reminds them that God's wrath is coming on those who live in sin. Here is the obvious point of the unseemliness for God's people to live sinful lifestyles. Why would we continue to live our lives as those do who will be judged by God?

 

God is love. We are told that in 1 John 4, twice! Verses 8 and 16. We also read that he loved the people of the world so much that he sent his Son to ransom them from his own judicial wrath, 1 John 4:9-10. Here is what God tells us over and over about himself: he is both a god of love and a god of wrath.

 

We celebrate the love of God in the excitement we have for the inheritance he has provided us. And, at the same time we are to fear him as the One who will condemn and judge all who sin. Of Jesus Christ we are told, "He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. 'He will rule them with an iron scepter.' He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty." Revelation 19:13-15.

 

The writer of Hebrews tells us, "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:31. Also, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'" Hebrews 12:28-29.

 

Our lives should reflect that God is both a god of love and a god of Judgment!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com