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Stand In Awe of Our Self-Sufficient God

Today I read: 2 Kings 4, Psalm 50, Daniel 8, and 1 Timothy 1.

Gospel summary: God alone is the all-sufficient, all-powerful sovereign One over all the creation. He knows the future and alone controls it from his heavenly throne, all so that sinners might be redeemed and made to praise his holy name. We must never assume our worship is doing God a favor, but must worship and serve God in fear, knowing this holy God, Who could easily destroy us, has chosen of his own grace to redeem us by his Son's sacrifice on the cross.

Prayer: oh most awesome and terrible God, you alone reign over all creation and I am a speck of dust before you, even a rebellious and vain hater of you from birth. There is nothing you need from me and all I do for you adds nothing to you because you are self-sufficient and own all I have to offer you. I am humbled by the fact that you, this holy Sovereign, would come to earth as a man to bear all my sin against you in the shame of the cross. What Grace is mine to be a recipient of the lifeblood of God's only Son? Teach me daily that I ought to worship you with great fear and trembling. Help me to see the sheer and unthinkable grace given me through the gospel of Christ crucified and risen. May you fill my eyes with an overwhelming sense of awe and wonder at the Gospel, so that I may cherish it and keep it under my constant care, like a woman does her finest piece of China. But grant that I may not only gaze at your glory, but also respond to your grace with joy-filled obedience and live to proclaim it's glory to a lost and dying world.

Hymn: "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise" by Walter Chalmers Smith

Immortal, invisible, God only wise, in light inaccessible hid from our eyes, most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light, nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might; thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small; in all life Thou livest the true life of all; we blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree, and wither and perish- but naught changeth thee.

Great father of glory, pure father of light, Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight; all praise we would render; O help us to see 'tis only the splendor of light hideth thee!

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