The Not So Great Exchange
(Romans 1:21-23) For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
Substitution . (Deuteronomy 6:14-15) Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God.
Pride. (John 12:42-43) Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
Hedonism. (Hebrews 13:15) Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
Spectatorism. (James 4:8 NLT) Come close to God, and God will come close to you. (Hebrews 10:22) Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith...
Tradition.
(Matthew 15:3-9) Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition...? Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.”
What God Really Wants
(Psalm 50:8-15 NLT) I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer. But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens. For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it. Do I eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats? Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.
1. Thank Him with my sincere affection.
(2 Chronicles 16:9) For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
2. Offer Him the control of my life.
(Romans 12:1) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
3. Include in my everyday life.
(Deuteronomy 6:14-15) Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God.
What God really wants is relationshipwith me.
All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.