Tuesday Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:11
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:11
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. But we are revealed to God, and I trust also that we are revealed in your consciences.
Devotion:
It is that stage when you get to know God that you begin to build up a fear and respect for Him. While people do not yet know Him they neither fear Him nor respect Him; not fearing because they do not care for what He may be able to do and not respecting because they do not have a love for what He has already done. It is purely God’s grace which does prevent us from ending up in a dreadful position and it is the knowledge that we gain when we get to know Him that will give us that fear and respect.
Once we do have that fear and respect we should have no worries about telling others about our relationship with Christ because we have nothing to fear from mortal man in comparison to our Immortal God! But when we hold back we know that we are doing wrong because God is the one who sees straight through our issues. He can reveal the innermost feelings that we try to supress from others. He can reveal the fear so that we know it is there. That fear should not be hidden from others in fear of being shown us as being weak but rather put on display so that we can show our uttermost respect for God.
It is not our false show of strength that will convict others hearts but what God can reveal in us that will convict others. Don’t be afraid to show your feelings for God because He has never stopped showing the whole world about His feelings for you! It is not what we can do but what Christ does through and in us that will prick the hearts of others and allow them to see the truth for what it is rather than the pretence that many will try to hold up instead. God wants you to be honest because He has been honest with us. If we can show others a bit of Christ through us, then we are well on the way to doing what God would have us to do!
Points to Ponder:
Do you hide your feelings?
Do others know you love your God?