Awesome!

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind." Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV

I realized the other day, I have fallen into the bad habit of using the word awesome way too much. Even for simply okay, but not great things, I would reply, "That's awesome!" But, in honesty, I should really only be in awe of one thing and reserve usage of that word for God. God, who brought about creation, orchestrates everything in the universe from the beginning to the end and offers us eternal life; only he is genuinely awesome.

In Ecclesiastes, the author uses the Teacher to guide us through all his experiences and wisdom. In the end, this was his conclusion; looking back over everything and weighing all the evidence, there is only one thing that matters -- God. Therefore, in awe, we should worship him and seek to lead righteous lives out of respect. It is really that simple.

Although simple, we know it is not easy. We try, we stumble, and sometimes we fall. The good news, though, is this same awesome God will not let us fail. In Jesus, he provided an example of how to live righteously. In sending the Holy Spirit, he gives us an internal moral compass to walk in his path. Praise God!

Awesome God, maker of all things, we worship you and give you all praise. Please help us to show you the respect and admiration you rightly deserve. Lead and guide us in the paths of righteousness, to obey your commands. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Tim