July 13

1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36, Romans 1:18-32, Psalm 10:1-15, Proverbs 19:6-7 



Pray: Father, help me to love those who perhaps hate me passionately. Remind me that worship and thanksgiving are weapons I can use to fight off darkness while acknowledging light.

Read: Romans 1:21 says, Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

Edify: Every man or woman who has ever lived has had at least one encounter, if not many, with God. The creation itself lets all mankind know assuredly that there is a God. It is obvious. But mankind just as Adam and Eve in the garden comes to the point of choice. Are we going to worship God and be thankful or are we going to worship ourselves? We were created to worship. It is part of our DNA. But we get to choose whom we are going to believe in and how we are going to respond. Choosing to worship one’s self is like going down a rabbit hole. Once you enter everything changes. Foolish ideas prevail. Your mind becomes dark and confused. You claim to know it all but you really know nothing at all. And you begin to do shameful things and you plunge even deeper into darkness. Is there a way out? Yes, repent and believe. And WORSHIP.

Practice: Love the uncomely. The weight of foolishness and the burden of living in darkness is heavy enough without others piling on. We are to love those who oppose themselves. Is it possible to come out of the rabbit hole? With man, it is impossible. But with God, it is indeed possible.