Awe!

“Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of Him. For when He spoke, the world began! It appeared at His command. (Psalm 33:8-9 NLT)

When the Lord speaks, important things happen! When the Lord speaks, it just makes sense that we should listen! As impressive as Creation is, the Creator is even more impressive. Without the Creator there would be no creation. Without the Lord Jesus, who IS the Creator, we would have no life. And without His sacrifice there would be no eternal life in heaven for us.

“Whoa! Genesis 1:1 says: “In the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth.” Yes, it does, but in John 1:1 the Bible clarifies the passage in Genesis when John writes: “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought life to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”  Jesus IS God! Why is that fact so vital for us to understand?

In some people’s minds it’s almost like Jesus is a second thought or on some subpar level under God. “What’s the big deal about Jesus?” is the thought on some people’s mind. “Isn’t He just another religious teacher like Muhammed or Buddha?” He certainly was a great teacher, but what makes Him great is He was God in human flesh. There has never been, nor will there ever be another Jesus. He alone was qualified to die in our place for our sin.

In the Bible He’s described as “one of a kind” through the Greek term monogenēs (μονογενής), which literally means “the only one of its kind.” Why is it so important that we have a proper understanding of who Jesus is? Because unless and until we do, we’ll never even begin to grasp the privilege we have to know Him as Lord and Savior.

Until we’re awestruck at the mention of His holy name we’ll be tempted to be casual about our life in Him and our love for Him. But when the thought of Him brings tears of joy to our eyes and an attitude of gratitude, respect, and awe we’ll begin to understand that nothing, absolutely nothing is beyond His ability to accomplish for the sake of righteousness and the furtherance of His eternal purposes.

Why is that important? Because it should make a difference in how we pray if we keep His absolute authority in clear view, but it should also help us in the way we live. It should strengthen our faith so that it leads to unquestionable obedience and worship, equipping us to be vessels of love, kindness, gentleness, and the other fruit of the Spirit, but more importantly, enabling us to be vessels through whom His life will freely flow into those around us who have no clue who He is or why He died.

Ray Majoran puts it this way in his powerful prayer: “Forgive us for the times we grow impressed with what we can build, control, measure, or explain, while our hearts fail to recognize Your sovereign reign. Open our eyes to see Your eternal power in what You have made (Romans 1:20) and deepen our reverence to Your glory. May we be people who declare Your mighty acts, passing on the testimony of Your greatness from one generation to the next (Psalm 145:4-6). By the power of Your Word and Spirit, strengthen our faith so that awe leads us to obedience and worship. May each and every one of us confess with our lips and show with our lives that You have done great things, and You are worthy of our trust.”

Awe for the Lord Jesus grows out of love for and life in Him, so, if you don’t know Him, please tap anewstory.com and find out how you can have a life you never dreamed possible, a life filled with awe and expectation.

Blessings, Ed 😊